MIDDAY MEAL SCHEME IS NOW PM POSHAN, WITH STRUCTURAL CHANGES

The Narendra Modi government Wednesday announced a revamp of its midday meal scheme with some structural changes. To be called ‘PM Poshan’ scheme from now on, it will focus more on a child’s nutritional levels rather than just providing a meal.

When the scheme was first started in 1995, the midday meal was meant to ensure that children in government schools, especially those unable to get food at home, had at least one meal a day. It also became an initiative to improve enrolment in schools.

So far, the scheme covered 11.80 crore beneficiaries (students) in 11.20 lakh schools across the country. Starting this year, it will cover an extra 24 lakh beneficiaries in the age group of 5-6 years who will now be a part of the formal school system.

PM Poshan has been launched for an initial period of five years (2021-22 to 2025-26) with a budget of Rs 1.3 lakh crore. This includes Rs 54,062 crore as the central government’s share and Rs 31,733 crore as the state government’s share. The Centre will also bear an additional cost of Rs 45,000 crore for foodgrains.

“We are making structural changes in the scheme to ensure more transparency. Under the revamped scheme, funds will directly be sent to a school’s account, which will use it to cover cooking costs. Honorarium for cooks and helpers will also be sent through DBT, according to the new scheme. This is to ensure no leakages at the level of district administration and other authorities.

On the nutritional aspect, a nutrition expert is to be appointed in each school whose responsibility is to ensure that health aspects such as BMI, weight and hemoglobin levels are addressed. “Earlier our focus was to give meals to kids, but now we will ensure nutritional aspects as well like weight, BMI and other health aspects,” a senior official informed.

If states want to add extra items on the menu, such as milk and fruits, or other nutritional items apart from the vegetables, grains and pulses suggested by the Centre, they can do  so with the Centre’s approval so long as it falls within the allocated budget. Earlier, extra items were paid for from the state’s pocket.

CONG TRIES TO PLACATE SIDHU BUT HE REFUSES TO BUDGE

As Punjab Congress leaders tried to placate Navjot Singh Sidhu, he made it clear through a video that he was in no mood to budge on his 'principles'. The clip in Punjabi suggested that he had resigned over the induction of 'tainted' people in the new Charanjit Singh Channi government.

Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal also arrived in Punjab on a two-day visit, endorsed Sidhu's stand, asking Channi to shunt out 'tainted' people and fulfil the promises made by his predecessor.

On his part, Channi reached out to Sidhu, inviting the ex-cricketer for talks and saying that the party -- and not the government -- is supreme.

The party's central leadership in Delhi remained mum on developments in Punjab with a spokesperson merely saying that Harish Rawat, the state's in-charge at the All India Congress Committee, was keeping tabs.

But the 'Group of 23', made up of party leaders who have been seeking organisational reforms in the Congress, picked the day to voice concern over developments in Punjab and elsewhere.

Senior party leader Kapil Sibal said what is happening to the Congress in Punjab gives an advantage to Pakistan and the ISI, and recalled the state's history. He told reporters that such developments should be discussed at a party platform.

In Patiala, Sidhu kept himself confined to his home as state party leaders visited him, expressing support and asking him to change his mind.

In the video in Punjabi he uploaded on social media, the politician said, 'Main te adu, te ladu (I will take a stand and fight)'.

Amid the Punjab Congress crisis, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Vadra were in Kerala and Uttar

IN BRUTAL SECOND WAVE MORTALITY, VACCINES MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE

Reaffirming the critical role of Covid-19 vaccines in protection against death, health ministry data show that in the first seven weeks of the second wave of the pandemic, the 60-plus age group reported about 121 weekly deaths per million among the non-vaccinated, 2.6 weekly deaths per million among those who had received their first dose, and 1.76 weekly deaths per million among those who were fully vaccinated.

The data, being collated for a vaccine tracker which is to be launched soon, is significant, especially in the backdrop of public health experts expressing concern over a possible surge in cases following the festival season in October. Moreover, about 24 per cent of the estimated 60-plus population, identified as the most vulnerable group, are still unvaccinated.

On September 9, the health ministry released the first real-time data of India’s vaccination drive, which showed near-total efficacy in preventing serious illness and death. The data for four months (April 18-August 15) showed that vaccine efficacy in preventing deaths was 96.6 per cent after the first dose and 97.5 per cent after the second dose. A total of 2,52,873 deaths were reported in this period.

The vaccine efficacy was calculated on the basis of granular data on the weekly deaths per million, based on the ICMR’s Covid-19 testing data, vaccination data updated on the Co-Win platform, and the health ministry’s official death count. An analysis of this granular data showed a huge difference in the absolute number of deaths that were reported among the unvaccinated, as compared to those who were vaccinated, even during the peak of the second wave.

KEY COVID NUMBERS

Current Active Cases Countrywide: 2,69,774

New Cases in last 24 hours: 23,130

Recovered in last 24 hours: 28,728

Change in no. of Active cases in last 24 hours: -5,907

No. of deaths in last 24 hours (Total Covid Deaths so far): 309 (4,48,090)

Daily Tests (Tuesday): 17,20,154

Daily Positivity Rate (Proportion of Positives among total Tested): 1.3%

Percentage of Population Vaccinated (At Least One Dose / Two Doses): 48.2% / 17.5%

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

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STOP USING DRONES, TALIBAN WARN U.S.; TALIBAN FAILED TO HONOUR DOHA ACCORD, SAYS US GENERAL

The Taliban on Wednesday warned of consequences if the United States did not stop flying drones over Afghan airspace.

“The U.S. has violated all international rights and laws as well as its commitments made to the Taliban in Doha, Qatar, with the operation of these drones in Afghanistan,” the Taliban said in a statement on Twitter. “We call on all countries, especially United States, to treat Afghanistan in light of international rights, laws and commitments ... in order to prevent any negative consequences.”

The Taliban have failed to honour the 2020 Doha Agreement, a top American military general told lawmakers on Tuesday, asserting the outfit had not renounced the Al-Qaida.

“Under the Doha Agreement, the United States would begin to withdraw its forces contingent upon the Taliban meeting certain conditions, which would lead to a political agreement between the Taliban and the government of Afghanistan,” General Mark Milley, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee. There were seven conditions applicable to the Taliban and eight conditions applicable to the US under the agreement, he said.

“While the Taliban did not attack US forces, which was one of the conditions, they failed to fully honour any other condition under the Doha Agreement. And, perhaps most importantly for US national security, the Taliban have never renounced Al-Qaida or broke its affiliation with them,” he said. The US, on the other hand, adhered to every condition, the official noted.

Milley said it was clear the war in Afghanistan did not end on the terms the US wanted, with the Taliban now in power in Kabul. “The Taliban are a terrorist organisation, and they still have not broken ties with Al-Qaida. I have no illusions who we are dealing with. It remains to be seen whether or not the Taliban can consolidate power or if the country will further fracture into civil war,” he asserted.

A legislation has been introduced in the US Senate seeking a report from the secretary of state about his assessment of Pakistan’s role in the Taliban offensive that led to the toppling of the US-backed Afghan government and its support for Taliban offensive in Panjshir Valley, prompting Islamabad to term the move as “unwarranted”. Twenty-two Republican senators on Tuesday introduced the legislation in the Senate to impose sanctions on the Taliban and on all the foreign governments that support the hardline Islamic group.

THE REST

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AMARINDER MEETS AMIT SHAH AMID SPECULATIONS, SAYS DISCUSSED FARM LAWS

Amid speculation over his future move after resigning as Punjab chief minister, Amarinder Singh met Union Home Minister Amit Shah at his residence in New Delhi on Wednesday and said he discussed the prolonged farmers stir with him.

However, the politically significant meeting, which came days after Singh resigned as Punjab chief minister, raised speculation over his future plans ahead of the assembly polls with some political analysts viewing it as an indication that Singh may be seeking the support of the BJP.

After the Singh-Shah meeting, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala alleged that Amit Shah's residence has become the centre of anti-Dalit politics.

In a series of tweets in Hindi, he said, 'the arrogance of the those sitting in power has been hurt. Because if a Dalit is made the Chief Minister, then they ask who is making the decisions in the Congress'. 'The centre of anti-Dalit politics is nowhere else but Amit Shah's residence,' he alleged.

He also alleged that 'Amit Shahji and Modiji are burning in the fire of vengeance...They want to take revenge on Punjab as they have so far failed to serve the interests of their capitalist friends with the black anti-farmer laws. BJP's anti-farmer conspiracy will not succeed #NoFarmersNoFood'.

Singh's meeting with Shah has added another dimension in politics in Punjab where no party is being seen as a clear favourite in the polls, expected to be held early next year.

Singh's meeting with Shah assumes significance as the Congress leader has not divulged his future plans but had asserted that he has not quit politics and would fight till the end. Singh has also said that there were several options before him.

SC NOTICE TO CRACKER MAKERS OVER REPORT ON USE OF BANNED CHEMICALS

With Diwali just about a month away, the Supreme Court on Wednesday issued notice to firecracker manufacturers to show cause why they should not be charged with contempt of court and their licences cancelled for allegedly using chemicals banned by the court in the manufacturing process.

A bench of Justices M R Shah and A S Bopanna said that from a report submitted by the Joint Director of CBI, Chennai, it prima facie appears that there has been a violation of the court’s earlier orders, issuing a ban on use of barium/barium salts, as well as orders regarding labelling of firecrackers.

Hearing a plea by a student, Arjun Gopal, the court, by its order on October 23, 2018, had banned use of barium salts in making of firecrackers and had favoured green crackers.

Considering a fresh plea, also by the student, alleging violation of the court’s earlier order prohibiting use of certain chemicals in crackers, the bench had on March 3, 2020 asked the CBI’s Chennai unit to look into the charges.

Taking it up on Wednesday, the bench observed, “We have to take a balanced view looking at the country, because every day there is some celebration in this country. But we have to consider other aspects too. We cannot let people suffer and die. There are people suffering from asthma and other diseases. Children are also suffering.”

INSURANCE FOR EXPORTERS GETS GOVT SUPPORT

The government yesterday approved twin proposal of capital infusion of Rs 4,400 crore in the state-owned export credit insurance company ECGC in next five years and its listing on the stock market through multiple public offerings.

Briefing media about the decisions, which were taken at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by PM Narendra Modi, Minister for Commerce & Industry Piyush Goyal said, “Approval has been granted to provide a boost to the export sector.”

Claiming that the country’s exports were at US$ 185 billion till September 21 and they may go up to US$ 190 billion by the end of the first half of the financial year, Goyal said the decision to infuse fresh capital had been taken with a view to make efforts to suitably synchronise it with the listing process of ECGC through the IPO. “This will increase the solvency and underwriting capacity of ECGC to support more exports,” he added.

DISMANTLING THE ORDNANCE FACTORY BOARD

The Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), the first of whose industrial establishments was set up in 1801, will cease to exist from October 1, and the assets, staff, and operations of its 41 ordnance factories will be transferred to seven defence public sector units (DPSUs).

The government has gone through with the corporatisation in the face of strong opposition from workers’ federations, including the one affiliated to the RSS.

A large chunk of the weapons, ammunition, and supplies used by the armed forces, and paramilitary and police forces, come from OFB-run factories. Their products include civilian and military-grade arms and ammunition, explosives, propellants, and chemicals for missile systems, military vehicles, armoured vehicles, optical and electronic devices, parachutes, support equipment, troop clothing, and general store items for the armed forces.

The restructuring of the Kolkata-headquartered OFB into corporate entities was recommended in one or the other form by at least three expert committees on defence reforms set up in the last two decades. The central argument has been that corporatisation, which will bring these entities under the purview of The Companies Act, would lead to improvements in efficiency, make products cost-competitive, and enhance their quality.

It has been argued that OFB’s monopoly has led to innovation drying up, apart from low productivity, high costs of production, and lack of flexibility at the higher managerial levels.

Corporatisation was listed as one of the 167 “transformative ideas” to be implemented in the first 100 days of the second Narendra Modi government in 2019.

YOUTUBE BANS ALL ANTI-VACCINE MISINFORMATION

YouTube said on Wednesday that it was banning several prominent anti-vaccine activists from its platform as part of an effort to remove all content that falsely claims that approved vaccines are dangerous. In a blog post, YouTube said it would remove videos claiming that vaccines do not reduce transmission or contraction of disease, and content that includes misinformation on the contents of the vaccines. Claims that approved vaccines cause autism, cancer or infertility, or that the vaccines contain trackers will also be removed.

Personal testimonies relating to vaccines, content about vaccine policies, new vaccine trials and historical videos about vaccine successes or failures will be allowed to remain on the site. YouTube said in the past year it had removed 130,000 videos for violating Covid vaccine policies.

BRITNEY SPEARS' FATHER REMOVED AS SINGER'S GUARDIAN AFTER LONG BATTLE

Britney Spears' father was removed from his controversial role as his daughter's guardian on Wednesday by a Los Angeles judge, ending a long and bitter legal battle by the pop princess.

Jamie Spears was suspended with immediate effect and replaced with a temporary conservator "in the best interests" of the singer, said Judge Brenda Penny. A hearing to fully terminate the guardianship is expected before the end of the year. "Mr Spears is ordered to turn over all the conservatorship assets," said Penny.

Spears' father has controlled her life for the past 13 years, under a controversial legal arrangement that the 39-year-old US singer has slammed as "abusive" and that her lawyers had demanded be scrapped.

Wednesday's move came after a years-long campaign that played out in public, and after the emergence in the last week of two new powerful documentaries that contained allegations Jamie Spears had bugged his daughter's phone calls.

Dozens of supporters had gathered outside a Los Angeles courtroom ahead of the hearing, many carrying colorful signs with slogans such as "Jail Jamie" and the ubiquitous "Free Britney" plea that has been taken up around the world by her supporters on social media.

IPL MATCH 43: RCB SCORE A THUMPING WIN OVER RAJASTHAN ROYALS

Royal Challengers Bangalore dished out a clinical performance with both bat and ball to score a comprehensive seven-wicket victory over Rajasthan Royals, in Dubai, on Wednesday.

Chasing 150, Virat Kohli’s team completed the task with as many as 17 balls and 7 wickets to spare.

Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell was the architect of RCB's easy victory. He blazed away to an unbeaten 50 off just 30 balls, while Srikar Bharat gave a good account of himself, scoring 44 off 35 deliveries.

Put in to bat, Rajasthan Royals got off to a solid start as Yashasvi Jaiswal and Evin Lewis smashed four fours and as many sixes in the first five overs. But in the end, the Royals will be mad at themselves for not finishing as well as they started. The scored just 49 runs in the last eight overs and managed a total of just 149/9.

RCB scored 153/3 in 17.1 overs.

RCB (Placed 3rd) – 11 Matches, 7 Wins; RR (Placed 7th) 11 Matches, 4 Wins

Today’s Match – SRH vs CSK

INDICATORS

Sensex 59,413 (-255), Nifty 17,711 (-37), Trading Value NSE (Rs.crores) 83,199.82

Nasdaq 14,512 (-34) Dow 34,391 (+91), S&P 4,359 (+7)

US$-Rs. 74.15 GBP-Rs. 99.97, Euro-Rs. 86.33, UAE Dhm-Rs.20.18, Can$-Rs. 58.31, Aus$- Rs. 53.50

GBP 0.74 /US$, Euro 0.85 /US$, Jap.Yen 111.65  /US$, Aus$ 1.38 /US$, Sing 1.35 /US$, Bang Taka 84.09 /US$, Can$ 1.27 /US$, Mal Ring 4.18 /US$,

Pak Re 168.82 /US$, Phil Peso 50.89 /US$, Russian Rouble 72.78 /US$, NZ$ 1.44 /US$, Thai Baht 33.86 /US$, Ukraine Hryvnia 26.36 /US$

Bitcoin - USD 42,818

Dollar Index 94.30, Brent Crude 78.53 BDI 5,197

Gold world Spot Price USD/aoz 1,731 India (Rs. per gm 24k/22k) 4,610 / 4,510, Silver (Rs. Per KG) 64,800

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

What we don't understand we don't possess. - JW von Goethe

OFF TRACK

Noah was told that of all the animals on the ark, only the adders refused to obey God's command and go forth and multiply.

"Well," said Noah. "I'll have to ask the Lord what to do about that." And so he prayed to God and said, "These snakes won't go forth and multiply"

And God said, "Don't worry. Find some the trees and saw them into logs and create a platform sitting upon four legs. Then put the snakes on the platform."

"But how will that help the snakes?" asked Noah.

"Easy," replied God, "Everyone knows even adders can multiply using a log table!"