Sunday, October 30, 2016
PM Narendra Modi Diwali Celebrations
Selection of Foreign Coaches to be done through Open Advertisement
Selection of foreign coaches in future will be done through open advertisement. The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Youth Affairs & Sports, Shri Vijay Goel has approved this proposal which emerged at a meeting taken by him with senior officers of his Ministry and Sports Authority of India in New Delhi yesterday. This will bring more names before the Foreign Coaches Selection Committee in addition to those suggested by National Sports Federations.
The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports spends a substantial amount on foreign coaches to prepare Indian athletes for Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and other important tournaments. Keeping this in view, extension to foreign coaches in future will be given on the basis of their performance as assessed by a Committee.
Hiring of foreign coaches is a necessity for training Indian athletes in many sports disciplines at present, but they will be utilized for training Indian coaches so that our dependence on foreign coaches can be reduced in future. The contract with foreign coaches will invariably include a component of training of Indian coaches for a certain period.
Shri Vijay Goel said that he would continue to take such steps in the interest of transparency in sports.
The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports spends a substantial amount on foreign coaches to prepare Indian athletes for Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and other important tournaments. Keeping this in view, extension to foreign coaches in future will be given on the basis of their performance as assessed by a Committee.
Hiring of foreign coaches is a necessity for training Indian athletes in many sports disciplines at present, but they will be utilized for training Indian coaches so that our dependence on foreign coaches can be reduced in future. The contract with foreign coaches will invariably include a component of training of Indian coaches for a certain period.
Shri Vijay Goel said that he would continue to take such steps in the interest of transparency in sports.
FM Radio Phase III Auction
E-Auction of the Second Batch of Private FM Radio Phase III Channels commenced on 26th October 16. During the day, four rounds of bidding took place. 266 FM Channels in 92 cities comprising 227 channels in 69 fresh cities and 39 unsold channels from 23 cities of batch I of Ph-III have been put on auction in the second batch. At the close of first day of bidding, 58 channels in 42 cities became Provisionally Winning Channels with cumulative provisional winning price of around Rs.182 Crore against their aggregate reserve price of about Rs.179.2 Crore.
The auction began today. Total 14 bidders were allowed to participate in the auction. The ongoing auction is a Simultaneous Multiple Round Ascending (SMRA) e-auction which is being conducted on line. States of Uttarakhand and Nagaland and Border Area Towns of Poonch Mokukchung, Leh, Kathua, Kargil, Bhaderwa to have Private FM Channels for the first time
Wednesday, October 26, 2016
Make in India ,Skill India" and “Digital India
Minister of Information and Broadcasting, M. Venkaiah Naidu has said that digital and mobile tools have been leading to paradigm shifts in the M&E sector. The growth of varied platforms such as 4G, broadband, mobile technologies, digital media has enabled the M&E sector to move towards “Convergence across platforms and content”.
The Government of India's “Make in India”, "Skill India" and “Digital India” campaigns were clearly positive signals of the new transformation including GST which is expected to be a game changer for the M&E sector. Shri Naidu stated this while delivering the keynote address at the inaugural function of the 5th Edition of CII Big Picture Summit at New Delhi today. The theme of this year’s Summit is 'Embracing Disruption to Stay Competitive'.Regarding opportunities in the skill sector for the M&E industry, Mr.Naidu said that the Government is fully aware of the acute shortage of professionals across different segments. He mentioned that he would like the industry to give its recommendations on the steps to be taken to match demand and supply as well as the recommendations emerging from the discussions at the summit for the different sessions focusing on skill assessment and needs.
The Government of India's “Make in India”, "Skill India" and “Digital India” campaigns were clearly positive signals of the new transformation including GST which is expected to be a game changer for the M&E sector. Shri Naidu stated this while delivering the keynote address at the inaugural function of the 5th Edition of CII Big Picture Summit at New Delhi today. The theme of this year’s Summit is 'Embracing Disruption to Stay Competitive'.Regarding opportunities in the skill sector for the M&E industry, Mr.Naidu said that the Government is fully aware of the acute shortage of professionals across different segments. He mentioned that he would like the industry to give its recommendations on the steps to be taken to match demand and supply as well as the recommendations emerging from the discussions at the summit for the different sessions focusing on skill assessment and needs.
On the issue of growth prospects for the industry, Naidu said that as part of the national policy, the Government would work with the industry to develop infrastructure to get the right talent at the appropriate sectors. The M&E sector in India had always been a very liberal media market and a number of initiatives had been taken including opening up and liberalizing FDI in the broadcast sector.
For the initiatives in the film sector, Naidu said there is a huge opportunity to make India lead in the world as film shooting location and digital media hub for the world. Our films, actors, content, technology were expanding footprint to new and emerging global markets, and the aim of the Government was to make this transition smooth by creating an enabling regulatory environment. The Co-production agreements with other countries has ensured the projection and branding of India’s soft power.
On the issue of the theme of the Conference “'Embracing Disruption to Stay Competitive”, the Minister said that this process had substantially altered the business models across the world. The Indian M&E industry needed to outline a firm roadmap to ensure the convergence of networks, devices and content, the core elements of the digital entertainment process. Shri Naidu referred to the Government’s Digital India and Smart City initiative that were going to have a major impact on increasing the penetration of Internet to Tier-II and Tier-III cities. He also referred to the potential of smartphones in facilitating a critical role for consumers’ professional and personal lives. The Government’s initiatives and private sector participation was necessary to ensure the optimal use of the potential of the digital ecosystem.
PM Modi urges citizens to send their messages to jawans
The great respect and admiration that the nation has for our Armed Forces, will find expression this festive season, through a unique campaign being led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The #Sandesh2Soldiers campaign gives every citizen an opportunity to spread happiness and cheer among the Indian Armed Forces, who are guarding our nation’s frontiers, far from their loved ones on Diwali.
A holistic campaign has been launched to urge and invite people to send letters and messages to the Armed Forces. Leading this effort, the Prime Minister shared through social media, a special video, featuring his appeal to the people to send messages to our brave Armed Forces personnel. Within hours, the video has generated tremendous interest on platforms such as Twitter and Facebook.
People can send messages to soldiers on the Narendra Modi App, through MyGov.in, and also through All India Radio. Doordarshan shall also be mounting a programme to share people’s emotions with the Armed Forces.
A special module has been launched on the Narendra Modi App, which enables people to send greetings or their hand-written messages to the Armed Forces.
The #Sandesh2Soldiers campaign is expected to generate increased interaction between the people and the Armed Forces. Earlier this month, at an event in Bhopal, the Prime Minister had focused on the human element of our brave jawans. His appeal to people to applaud jawans when they meet them, has also created a buzz on social media.
Since becoming Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has spent both Diwalis with the Armed Forces.
Thursday, October 20, 2016
Cabinet approves establishment of an Indian Institute of Management at Jammu
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved the establishment and operationalisation of Indian Institute of Management (IIM) at Jammu in a transit/temporary campus at Old Government College of Engineering & Technology from the Academic Year 2016-17.
The project will involve a cost of Rs.61.90 crore in temporary campus for the initial four years from 2016 to 2020. The student strength intake for this year in the Post Graduate Diploma Programme (PGDP) in Management is 54 which will progressively go up to a cumulative student strength of 120 in the 4th year. Meanwhile, steps would also be taken up for setting up campus at Jammu and an out-campus in Kashmir region. The Detailed Project Report for the permanent campuses is under preparation and thereafter the process for setting up of the campuses would start.
The Cabinet also approved formation of an IIM Jammu Society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. IIM Jammu will be run and managed by the Society with a Board of Governors (BOGs) to be constituted by the Government of India, which will administer the Institute and would be responsible for establishment and operationalisation of the Institute.
This is a part of Prime Minister’s development package for Jammu & Kashmir. The Institute coupled with opening of IIT at Jammu, modernization of NIT Srinagar and opening of two new AIIMS institutions, one each in Kashmir region and Jammu region, would go a long way in meeting the requirement of high quality living and education in Jammu & Kashmir.
Background:
Indian Institutes of Management are the country’s premier institutions imparting best quality education in management on globally benchmarked processes of education and training in management education and allied area of knowledge.
At present, there are nineteen IIMs. Out of these, thirteen IIMs are located at Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Lucknow, Indore, Kozhikode, Shillong, Ranchi, Raipur, Rohtak, Kashipur, Trichy, Udaipur. Another six IIMs which have been started in 2015 are located at Amritsar, Sirmaur, Nagpur, Bodhgaya, Sambalpur and Vishakhapatnam.
The project will involve a cost of Rs.61.90 crore in temporary campus for the initial four years from 2016 to 2020. The student strength intake for this year in the Post Graduate Diploma Programme (PGDP) in Management is 54 which will progressively go up to a cumulative student strength of 120 in the 4th year. Meanwhile, steps would also be taken up for setting up campus at Jammu and an out-campus in Kashmir region. The Detailed Project Report for the permanent campuses is under preparation and thereafter the process for setting up of the campuses would start.
The Cabinet also approved formation of an IIM Jammu Society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. IIM Jammu will be run and managed by the Society with a Board of Governors (BOGs) to be constituted by the Government of India, which will administer the Institute and would be responsible for establishment and operationalisation of the Institute.
This is a part of Prime Minister’s development package for Jammu & Kashmir. The Institute coupled with opening of IIT at Jammu, modernization of NIT Srinagar and opening of two new AIIMS institutions, one each in Kashmir region and Jammu region, would go a long way in meeting the requirement of high quality living and education in Jammu & Kashmir.
Background:
Indian Institutes of Management are the country’s premier institutions imparting best quality education in management on globally benchmarked processes of education and training in management education and allied area of knowledge.
At present, there are nineteen IIMs. Out of these, thirteen IIMs are located at Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Lucknow, Indore, Kozhikode, Shillong, Ranchi, Raipur, Rohtak, Kashipur, Trichy, Udaipur. Another six IIMs which have been started in 2015 are located at Amritsar, Sirmaur, Nagpur, Bodhgaya, Sambalpur and Vishakhapatnam.
AMCDRR: School kids to paint 'LIVE' for Disaster Risk Reduction Awareness
A national-level painting competition for school children aged between 10-14 years will be held on November 3, 2016 during the Asian Ministerial Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction (AMCDRR) 2016.
The Conference is being organised from November 3-5, 2016 at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi by the Government of India in collaboration with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR).
This competition will be based on themes related to Disaster Risk Reduction and aims to make children aware of its need and importance. It also aims at bringing to the fore their understanding of risks and ways to address them.
Children are a nation's future, and they need to be exposed to notions of safety from all kinds of hazards - small everyday hazards to major natural hazards like floods like floods and earthquakes - early in their lives to ensure their holistic growth.
Children's participation would also lead to a greater involvement of their parents and society resulting in better prepared communities.
The State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs) will organise the first level of the competition. Each participating State will send its three best participants for the national level competition.
At the national level competition, a jury will select three winners who will be rewarded cash prizes, a certificate of recognition and a memento. Three consolation prizes will also be awarded.
AMCDRR will set the direction of implementation and monitoring of Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) in the region. The Framework was adopted by 187 countries, including India, at the Third UN World Conference on DRR in March 2015. It recognises children as agents of change and advocates that they should be given the space and modalities to contribute to DRR.
The Conference is being organised from November 3-5, 2016 at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi by the Government of India in collaboration with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR).
This competition will be based on themes related to Disaster Risk Reduction and aims to make children aware of its need and importance. It also aims at bringing to the fore their understanding of risks and ways to address them.
Children are a nation's future, and they need to be exposed to notions of safety from all kinds of hazards - small everyday hazards to major natural hazards like floods like floods and earthquakes - early in their lives to ensure their holistic growth.
Children's participation would also lead to a greater involvement of their parents and society resulting in better prepared communities.
The State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs) will organise the first level of the competition. Each participating State will send its three best participants for the national level competition.
At the national level competition, a jury will select three winners who will be rewarded cash prizes, a certificate of recognition and a memento. Three consolation prizes will also be awarded.
AMCDRR will set the direction of implementation and monitoring of Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) in the region. The Framework was adopted by 187 countries, including India, at the Third UN World Conference on DRR in March 2015. It recognises children as agents of change and advocates that they should be given the space and modalities to contribute to DRR.
CCTV cameras to be installed at Polavaram Project
The Andhra Pradesh Government is installing CCTV cameras around the Polavaram Project so that the progress of work could be monitored round the clock.
Chief Minister will be monitoring the pace and progress of work from the command and control centre in the CMO at the new Temporary Secretariat at Velagapudi in Amaravati. Sources said that in a review meeting today, Naidu directed officials to arrange CCTV cameras using optical fiber network for round the clock surveillance of project site. The Chief Minister inspected the progress of Polavaram project works on Monday along with Minister for Water Resources Devineni Umamaheswara Rao and irrigation officials.
He has also asked to strengthen the security measures at Polavaram project. He directed the officials to set up facial recognition and RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) bands to identify the work force.
Tuesday, October 18, 2016
Regional Editors Conference begins at Chandigarh
Media should develop self regulatory mechanism - VP Singh Badnore Governor Punjab
Regional Editors Conference begins at Chandigarh
Regional Editors Conference begins at Chandigarh
Governor Punjab and Administrator of Chandigarh, Sh. VP Singh Badnore has said that media should develop self regulatory mechanism to place true picture of the issues concerning people before the government. He said role of the media is very important in raising issues concerning to common people and it can also help in addressing these issues. The Governor was addressing the Regional Editors’ Conference here today. Citing some incidents of paid news, Shri Badnore said that media should come forward to check this menace. He invited public suggestions to improve the infrastructure and the public convenience in Chandigarh and added that media should play its role in getting these suggestions to the administration.
Welcoming the participants, Director General of PIB, Shri A.P.Frank Naronha said the Government considers the media as an important stakeholder in its agenda of development. “The media has an onerous responsibility as both a facilitator and a watchdog to ensure that the fruits of development are distributed to the deserving,” he said. He added the media, especially regional media, can play an important role in this venture.
During the inaugural session, Home Minister, Shri Rajnath Singh and Member Parliament, Smt. Kirron Kher were also present.
Giving the background of the conference, Shri Naronha said the Regional Editors Conference has been organized with an objective to provide an opportunity to the editors of the regional press to interact directly with the ministers on the crucial issues concerning their respective ministries. While the participants will get to know the relevant context and deeper background behind a particular initiative, programmes and policies, it will also help the policy makers in getting the feedback from the media which could be useful for further improvement, he said.
Highlighting the role of PIB in information dissemination and communication, Shri Naronha said besides traditional modes of communication PIB is also reaching to the regional press and public through social media in big way to make them aware of government policies and programmes.
In two-day conference six central Ministries viz, Home affairs, Women & Child Development, Road Transport & Highways, Consumer Affairs & Public Distribution, Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Development for North East region are participating. Union Ministers of the concerned Ministries would preside over the respective sessions and address the Editors about the policy issues and initiatives pertaining to the Ministry.
In the Conference, editors from the states of Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttrakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Manipur, Mizoram and Chandigarh are taking part.
Welcoming the participants, Director General of PIB, Shri A.P.Frank Naronha said the Government considers the media as an important stakeholder in its agenda of development. “The media has an onerous responsibility as both a facilitator and a watchdog to ensure that the fruits of development are distributed to the deserving,” he said. He added the media, especially regional media, can play an important role in this venture.
During the inaugural session, Home Minister, Shri Rajnath Singh and Member Parliament, Smt. Kirron Kher were also present.
Giving the background of the conference, Shri Naronha said the Regional Editors Conference has been organized with an objective to provide an opportunity to the editors of the regional press to interact directly with the ministers on the crucial issues concerning their respective ministries. While the participants will get to know the relevant context and deeper background behind a particular initiative, programmes and policies, it will also help the policy makers in getting the feedback from the media which could be useful for further improvement, he said.
Highlighting the role of PIB in information dissemination and communication, Shri Naronha said besides traditional modes of communication PIB is also reaching to the regional press and public through social media in big way to make them aware of government policies and programmes.
In two-day conference six central Ministries viz, Home affairs, Women & Child Development, Road Transport & Highways, Consumer Affairs & Public Distribution, Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Development for North East region are participating. Union Ministers of the concerned Ministries would preside over the respective sessions and address the Editors about the policy issues and initiatives pertaining to the Ministry.
In the Conference, editors from the states of Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttrakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Manipur, Mizoram and Chandigarh are taking part.
Tuesday, October 11, 2016
AMCDRR Film Festival: Stories of hope and future
The Conference is being organised from November 3-5, 2016 at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi by the Government of India in collaboration with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR). It will set the direction of implementation and monitoring of Sendai Framework in the region.
Short films and educational documentaries have proved to be one of the effective mediums to strengthen understanding disaster resilience by showcasing community participation, success stories and best practices on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). Without a greater awareness, understanding and knowledge of the challenges and opportunities of disaster resilient development, it will not be possible to achieve the overall goal of the Sendai Framework of preventing and reducing disaster risk.
A highlight event of the AMCDRR 2016, this competition aims to showcase benefits of DRR policies, communities to nations and other stakeholders and to encourage increased investments in prevention and mitigation measures. Entries were called for under three categories: Positive Human Impact of DRR, DRR for Development and Adapting to Climate Change.
The entries will be played at the venue throughout the conference duration on 3rd and 4th November, 2016. Three winners, one from each category, will be felicitated on the closing day of the Conference.
AMCDRR 2016 will focus on collaboration, consultation and partnership with governments and stakeholders to mainstream DRR in the region's socio-economic development.
SSB seized synthetic drug worth Rs.6 crores on Indo-Nepal Border
On the information of SSB sources an operation was planned in the early morning today and one person, namely Shanker Ghosh, coming from Nepal with the drug, was apprehended. The seized drug is purest form of Methamphetamine, a strong stimulant, it is better than cocaine. On checking through the drug detection kit, its purity level is found to be very high.
The seized contraband and apprehended person have been handed over to the local Police and further interrogation is on.
Wednesday, October 5, 2016
Cabinet accords permission to Ms/. HLL Lifecare Ltd., to sub-lease 330.10 acres of Government land at Chengalpattu, Kanchipuram District (Tamil Nadu) leased to it in 2009 for setting up Medipark
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to M/s. HLL Lifecare Ltd., a Mini Ratna PSU under Ministry of Health & Family Welfare to sub- lease 330.10 acres of land at. Chengalpattu, located in the outskirts of Chennai, to setup a medical devices manufacturing park (Medipark) through a special purpose Vehicle. The shareholding of HLL in the project would be above 50%.
The Medipark project will be the first manufacturing cluster in the medical technology sector in the country, envisaged to boost the local manufacturing of hi-end products at a significantly lower cost, resulting in affordable healthcare delivery, particular in diagnostic services to a large section of people. The proposed Medipark would contribute to the development of medical devices and technology sector and allied disciplines in the country, which is still at a nascent stage besides generating employment and give a boost to the government's "Make in India" Campaign.
Medipark will be developed in phases, spread over seven years for completion. In the first phase, physical infrastructure will be developed and plots will be leased from third year onwards. Knowledge management center will be developed in the second phase, with grants and assistance from departments, which funds similar initiatives. HLL will sublease the land to investors, through a transparent bidding process to investors desirous to set up manufacturing units for Medical equipment and devices. In the initial phase, the land cost to the qualifying entrepreneurs from Medical Device and Equipment, Manufacturing Industry will be at a subsidized rate so as to attract others and the rate will go up gradually as the demand picks up. Thus the Medipark project will play an important role in enhancing quality health care delivery in India.
The project will reduce the dependence on imports and create a strong base for the growth of indigenous and domestic industry by providing access to state of art infrastructure and technology. The domestic manufacturing of medical devices and equipment shall not only usher in a regime of assured and affordable health care delivery but also deepen and strengthen the penetration of quality health care services.
The Medipark project will be the first manufacturing cluster in the medical technology sector in the country, envisaged to boost the local manufacturing of hi-end products at a significantly lower cost, resulting in affordable healthcare delivery, particular in diagnostic services to a large section of people. The proposed Medipark would contribute to the development of medical devices and technology sector and allied disciplines in the country, which is still at a nascent stage besides generating employment and give a boost to the government's "Make in India" Campaign.
Medipark will be developed in phases, spread over seven years for completion. In the first phase, physical infrastructure will be developed and plots will be leased from third year onwards. Knowledge management center will be developed in the second phase, with grants and assistance from departments, which funds similar initiatives. HLL will sublease the land to investors, through a transparent bidding process to investors desirous to set up manufacturing units for Medical equipment and devices. In the initial phase, the land cost to the qualifying entrepreneurs from Medical Device and Equipment, Manufacturing Industry will be at a subsidized rate so as to attract others and the rate will go up gradually as the demand picks up. Thus the Medipark project will play an important role in enhancing quality health care delivery in India.
The project will reduce the dependence on imports and create a strong base for the growth of indigenous and domestic industry by providing access to state of art infrastructure and technology. The domestic manufacturing of medical devices and equipment shall not only usher in a regime of assured and affordable health care delivery but also deepen and strengthen the penetration of quality health care services.
Cabinet approves amendments to the HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Bill, 2014
The Union Cabinet under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to introduce official amendments to the HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Bill, 2014.
The HIV and AIDS Bill, 2014 has been drafted to safeguard the rights of people living with HIV and affected by HIV. The provisions of the Bill seek to address HIV-related discrimination, strengthen the existing programme by bringing in legal accountability and establish formal mechanisms for inquiring into complaints and redressing grievances. The Bill seeks to prevent and control the spread of HIV and AIDS, prohibits discrimination against persons with HIV and AIDS, provides for informed consent and confidentiality with regard to their treatment, places obligations on establishments to safeguard rights of persons living with HIV arid create mechanisms for redressing complaints. The Bill also aims to enhance access to health care services by ensuring informed consent and confidentiality for HIV-related testing, treatment and clinical research.
The Bill lists various grounds on which discrimination against HIV positive persons and those living with them is prohibited. These include the denial, termination, discontinuation or unfair treatment with regard to:
(i) employment,
(ii) educational establishments,
(iii) health care services,
(iv) residing or renting property,
(v) standing for public or private office, and
(vi) provision of insurance (unless based on actuarial studies). The requirement for HIV testing as a pre-requisite for obtaining employment or accessing health care or education is also prohibited.
Every HIV infected or affected person below the age of 18 years has the right to reside in a shared household and enjoy the facilities of the household. The Bill also prohibits any individual from publishing information or advocating feelings of hatred against HIV positive persons and those living with them. The Bill also provides for Guardianship for minors. A person between the age of 12 to 18 years who has sufficient maturity in understanding and managing the affairs of his HIV or AIDS affected family shall be competent to act as a guardian of another sibling below 18 years of age to be applicable in the matters relating to admission to educational establishments, operating bank accounts, managing property, care and treatment, amongst others.
The Bill requires that "No person shall be compelled to disclose his HIV status except with his informed consent, and if required by a court order". Establishments keeping records of information of HIV positive persons shall adopt data protection measures. According to the Bill, the Central and State governments shall take measures to:
(i) prevent the spread of HIV or AIDS,
(ii) provide anti-retroviral therapy and infection management for persons with HIV or AIDS,
(iii) facilitate their access to welfare schemes especially for women and children,
(iv) formulate HIV or AIDS education communication programmes that are age appropriate, gender sensitive, and non-stigmatizing, and
(v) lay guidelines for the care and treatment of children with HIV or AIDS. Every person in the care and custody of the state shall have right to HIV prevention, testing, treatment and counseling services. The Bill suggest that cases relating to HIV positive persons shall be disposed' off by the court on a priority basis and duly ensuring the confidentiality.
There are no financial implications of the Bill. Most of the activities are being already undertaken or can be integrated within the existing systems of various Ministries under training, communication and data management, etc. The Bill makes provision for appointment of an ombudsman by State Governments to inquire into complaints related to the violation of the Act and penal actions in case of non-compliance. The Ombudsman need not be a separate entity, but any existing State Government functionary can be deputed or given additional charge.
There are approximately 21 lakh persons estimated to be living with HIV in India. Even though the prevalence of HIV is decreasing over the last decade, the Bill would provide essential support to National AIDS Control Programme in arresting new infections and thereby achieving the target of "Ending the epidemic by 2030" according to Sustainable Development Goals.
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