Tag Archives: coronavirus fight

Jaishankar praises Rs.20 lakh crore stimulus plan, prepares for next

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External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has described Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s announcement under government’s Rs 20 lakh crore stimulus package under Atma Nirbhar Bharat as “bold initiatives” and noted that freign policy begins at home, hinting at changes soon to foreign policy too.

“Foreign Policy begins at home. A strong economy allows our voice to be heard in the world. Applaud FM @nsitharaman’s bold initiatives under PM @narendramodi’s leadership in reviving the MSME sector,” Jaishankar tweeted.

In a series of tweets on the stimulus plan, he followed it saying, “This is the backbone of the economy. We must never allow it to be hollowed out…Also appreciate the support provided to stressed sectors of the economy… India is today driven by a new vision, a stronger purpose and a deeper commitment. A self-reliant India has more to offer to the world.”

The finance minister’s plan included several measures for helping various economic sectors amid the coronavirus crisis such as — a Rs 5.9 lakh crore with a sharp focus on MSMEs, a liquidity scheme for NBFCs, HFCs and MFIs. It has reduced the rates of TDS and by 25%, lowering statutory deductions on EPF contributions by employees and employers.

Earlier on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted describing the announcements by the FM “will go a long way in addressing issues faced by businesses, especially MSMEs… The steps announced will boost liquidity, empower the entrepreneurs and strengthen their competitive spirit.”

India to grow with World

Referring to Modi’s speech earlier this week, Jaishankar clarified that the call for self-reliant India doesn’t mean shutting down doors to globalization. He tweeted saying India seeks to grow with the world. “Vision of a self-reliant India that will convert the Corona challenge into opportunity. India will grow, but grow with the world. Will contribute fully to global resilience,” he tweeted.

DRDO develops UV Disinfection Tower to ward off coronavirus aerosols

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India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed an Ultra Violet (UV) Disinfection Tower for rapid and chemical free disinfection of high infection prone areas as coronavirus is continuing its spread in the country with more than 42,000 affected already.

The equipment named UV blaster is a UV based area sanitiser designed and developed by Laser Science & Technology Centre (LASTEC) in Delhi, a premier laboratory of DRDO, with the help of New Age Instruments and Materials Private Limited, Gurugram.

The UV Blaster is useful for high tech surfaces like electronic equipment, computers and other gadgets in laboratories and offices that are not suitable for disinfection with chemical methods. The product is also effective for areas with large flow of people such as airports, shopping malls, metros, hotels, factories, and offices.

UVDisinfectionTower / DRDO

The UV based area sanitiser may be used by remote operation through laptop or mobile phone using any wi-fi link. The equipment has six lamps, each with 43 watts of UV-C power at 254 nm wavelength for 360 degree illumination. “For a room of about 12 x 12-ft dimension, the disinfection time is about 10 minutes and 30 minutes for 400 square feet area by positioning the equipment at different places within the room,” said the DRDO in a statement.

This sanitiser switches off on accidental opening of room or human intervention and another salient safety feature of the product is the key to arm operation, said DRDO in a statement.

UN, WHO create new fund for Coronavirus

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A new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Solidarity Response Fund to raise money from donors to support the World Health Organization (WHO) respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, the first-of-its-kind, has been created by the United Nations Foundation and the Swiss Philanthropy Foundation, together with WHO.

The fund has already lined up support from Facebook and Google who have instituted a matching scheme for funds raised through their platforms, while individual donors are also supporting the fund through www.COVID19ResponseFund.org.

“We need everyone to get involved in this massive effort to keep the world safe,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “A lot of people and institutions have been saying they want to contribute to the fight against the novel coronavirus. Now they can.”

 

Elizabeth Cousens, UN Foundation President and CEO said, “The case for global cooperation could not be clearer – communities everywhere are affected, and people want to contribute. This new fund will create space for people everywhere, together, to fight this virus.”

Funds will go towards enabling the COVID-19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan to enable all countries – particularly those most vulnerable and at-risk, and with the weakest health systems – to prepare for and respond to the COVID-19 crisis such as rapidly detecting cases, stopping transmission of the virus, and caring for those affected.

WHO is seeking financing for protective equipment for frontline health workers; to equip diagnostic laboratories; improve surveillance and data collection; establish and maintain intensive care units; strengthen supply chains; accelerate research and development of vaccines and therapeutics;  and take other critical steps to scale up the public health response to the pandemic.

All donations made to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund are tax-deductible to the extent allowable by local laws. Swiss Philanthropy Foundation has also partnered with Transnational Giving Europe to extend tax benefit to European countries where applicable.