Qaumi Ekta Week will be observed from 19th to 25th November, 2015

The Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh has asked the Central and State Governments to organise and celebrate the “Qaumi Ekta Week” in a befitting manner so that the message of Communal Harmony and National Integration could reach out to every part of the country and society. 

With a view to foster and reinforce the spirit of Communal Harmony, National Integration and pride in vibrant, composite culture and nationhood, the “Qaumi Ekta Week” (National Integration Week) will be observed all over the country, from the 19th to 25th November, 2015. 

This occasion provides an opportunity to reaffirm age old traditions and faith in the values of tolerance, co-existence and brotherhood in a multi-cultural and multi-religious society. The observation of the ‘Quami Ekta Week’ will also help to highlight the inherent strength and resilience of our nation to withstand actual and potential threats to the eclectic and secular fabric of our country, and nurture a spirit of communal harmony in its widest sense. 

The week long programmes to be observed during Qaumi Ekta Week will be as under: 

• November 19, 2015 will be observed as National Integration Day and programmes like meetings, symposia and seminars will be organized to emphasize the themes of secularism, anti-communalism and non-violence. 

• November 20, 2015 will be observed as Welfare of Minorities Day and items of the 15 Point Programme are emphasized on this day. 

• November 21, 2015 will be observed as Linguistic Harmony Day. Programmes like Special literary functions and Kavi Sammelans will be organized to enable people of each region to appreciate the linguistic heritage of other parts of India. 

• November 22, 2015 will be observed as Weaker Sections Day and meetings and rallies will be organized to highlight programmes under various Governments which help SCs/STs and weaker sections with particular emphasis on the distribution of surplus land to landless labourers. 

• November 23, 2015 will be observed as Cultural Unity Day and cultural functions will be organized to present the Indian tradition of unity in diversity and for promoting cultural conservation and integration. 

• November 24, 2015 will be observed as Women’s Day. On this day, the importance of Women in Indian Society and their role in development of nation-building are highlighted. 

• November 25, 2015 will be observed as Conservation Day and several meetings and functions will be organized to emphasise the growing need for awareness and action to conserve the environment. 

The National Foundation for Communal Harmony (NFCH), an autonomous organisation with the Ministry of Home Affairs, also organises Communal Harmony Campaign coinciding with the Qaumi Ekta Week and observes the Communal Harmony Flag Day on 25th November. The Foundation promotes Communal Harmony and strengthens National Integration. It also provides financial assistance for relief and rehabilitation of children rendered orphan or destitute in communal, caste, ethnic or terrorist violence. 

Winter session of Parliament from November 26 till December 23,2015

2 day discussion on Commitment to Constitution as part of 125th Birth Anniversary of Dr.Ambedkar

The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs (CCPA) today met and recommended convening of Winter session of Parliament from November 26 till December 23, 2015 subject to the exigencies of Government Business. This was announced to the media by Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Shri M.Venkaiah Naidu. 

Shri Naidu also informed that separate special sittings of both the Houses of Parliament will be held on the first two days of Winter session to discuss ‘Commitment to the Constitution’ as a part of 125th Birth Anniversary celebration of Dr.Bhim Rao Ambedkar and November 26 will be observed as ‘Constitution Day’ commemorating the acceptance of Draft Constitution on November 26,1949. Question Hour and Zero Hour will be dispensed with on these two days. 

Talking to media persons later, Shri M.Venkaiah Naidu urged the opposition parties in the Parliament to cooperate in passing of important pending Bills pertaining to introduction of Goods and Service Tax (GST) and setting up Real Estate Regulators etc. He said that the Bihar Assembly Verdict reflected the mood of the people in the state and it should not be construed as a mandate to stall the functioning of the Parliament. He said : “I was disturbed by media reports and analyses in the media after yesterday’s Bihar verdict that opposition parties in the Parliament will now be more emboldened to unite and stall the government’s Parliamentary agenda for the coming winter session. I sincerely hope that it is not the view of the concerned parties. All concerned need to understand the Bihar verdict in right perspective. People of Bihar like in other states too want development. By development, it means rapid economic growth through flow of investments into different sector like infrastructure, power, irrigation, education, health etc. 

To realise rapid economic growth, we need to put in right environment in place. This required carefully considered reforms. To interpret Bihar verdict in any other manner only amounts to questining the wisdom of the people of the state. Bihar verdict is a clear statement of people’s aspirations. It should not be interpreted as a mandate to obstruct Parliament. 

Development of Bihar and that of India are interlinked and are mutually reinforcing. The legislative initiatives under consideration of the Parliament are equally crucial for Bihar in as much as for other states. Measures for introduction of GST and Real Estate Regulator have been initiated long back and need to be taken to their logical conclusion given the benefits that flow. Opposition parties may have some concerns and the Government is always willing to sit with them and address them. This has been our approach since assumption of office last year.” 

Govt. of India has sponsored one week Study tour for 100 research Scholars to UK

 

Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Govt. of India has sponsored one week Study tour for 100 research Scholars in four groups of 25 participants each - two groups  to Columbia University New York, U.S.A.   and London School of Economics, U.K. during the period from 12^th October, 2015 to 28^th Nov., 2015, celebrating 125^th Birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar,

Research Scholars sharing their experiences with Union 

Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment

 after the completion of their study tour.

Two groups have since completed the study tour to Columbia University, New York and returned back to India.  Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot,  Hon’ble Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment  and Ms. Anita Agnihotri, Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment interacted with the participants on their return.  The study tour inter-alia  covered lectures and panel discussions with eminent persons with question answer sessions and visit to various places such as Library of Congress at Washington, Martin Luther King Memorial Park, National Science Foundation, Arlington, Camps and Library of Columbia University etc.  The participants found the tour very useful as it gave them an opportunity to get acquainted with the life, ideas and philosophy of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

Increase of Financial Assistance under the Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN)

To further ease access to financial assistance under Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi (RAN), the Government has decided to enhance the financial powers delegated to designated Central Government hospitals/institutes from Rs. 2 lakh to Rs. 5 lakh for providing financial assistance in cases where emergency surgery is to be conducted.

The RAN was set up in 1997 to provide financial assistance to patients, living below poverty line prescribed from time to time and who are suffering from major life threatening diseases related to heart, liver, kidney and cancer cases, etc., to receive medical treatment at any of the super specialty Government hospitals / institutes or other Government hospitals. Revolving Funds have been set up in 12 Central Government hospitals/institutes and amount up to Rs. 50 lakh is placed at their disposal for providing financial assistance. Details are available in the website of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Accordingly only cases for financial assistance beyond Rs. 5 lakh would now be required to be referred to Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.

For patients suffering from life threatening diseases, where time is a premium, this would facilitate commencement of treatment of poor patients found prima facie eligible for assistance under the Scheme by these hospitals/institutions. This would also enable to curtail the procedural delay for treatment, which would bring relief to thousands of patients annually.

The Government also provides financial assistance through the Health Minister’s Cancer Patient Fund (HMCPF) set up for providing financial assistance to the poor patients suffering from cancer having treatment in 27 Regional Cancer Centres (RCC). Financial assistance is also available under the Health Minister’s Discretionary Grant (HMDG) to patients having family annual income up to Rs.1,00,000/- and below to defray a part of the expenditure on hospitalization/treatment in Government Hospitals, in cases where free medical facilities are not available.

These Schemes have benefitted 37063 poor patients so far.