Vedanta’s “Swarna Prasan” Immunization Drive To Benefit 30k School Children In Odisha

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Vedanta’s “Swarna Prasan” Immunization Drive To Benefit 30k School Children I...

Vedanta’s “Swarna Prasan” Immunization Drive To Benefit 30k School Children In Odisha

by Hemanta Pande

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest aluminium producer, launched an extended drive in partnership with the Ministry of AYUSH to boost the ‘Swarna Prasan’ immunization initiative in Odisha’s Kalahandi district.

Bhubaneswar, Oct 24: Remaining committed to its initiatives that positively impact the lives of the community as well as create long-term health benefits for children and their families, Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest aluminium producer, launched an extended drive in partnership with the Ministry of AYUSH to boost the ‘Swarna Prasan’ immunization initiative in Odisha’s Kalahandi district.

While this drive extended across 10 schools reaching out to over 3700 students, the main event was held in Saraswati Shishu Mandir in Braja Vihar attended by Dr.Minakshi Bedbak, District Ayush Medical Officer, Dr. Kshtera Kand, Ayurvedic Medical Officer and Manoj Kumar Mundan, Principal, Saraswati Shishu Mandir, Braja Vihar.

Sunil Gupta, COO, Vedanta Aluminium, said, "Through our collaboration with the Government of Odisha and the Ministry of AYUSH, we aim to enhance the health and well-being of communities through age-old, traditional practices. The ‘Swarna Prasan’ initiative reflects our dedication to improving child health while respecting community values.”

“At Vedanta Aluminium, we believe that investing in the well-being and development of children is crucial, and we are eager to witness the positive transformations, shaping future generations,” quipped Gupta.

Nitin Kumar Tiwari, CEO - Bauxite Mines, Vedanta Aluminium, added, “We had launched this initiative in September benefitting around 1,000 students, and now we have further extended this drive with an aim to expand the Swarna Prasan programme to benefit 30,000 children, from infants to 16-year-olds, across Koraput, Kalahandi, and Rayagada by the end of this year.”

Minakshi Bedbak, District Ayush Medical Officer, emphasized, “Swarna Prasan is a time-tested Ayurvedic practice, and its multiple benefits in boosting immunity and cognitive function in children are well-documented. Vedanta Aluminium’s support in bringing such impactful health interventions to underserved regions is commendable.”

Expressing his gratitude, Manoj Kumar Mundan, Principal, Saraswati Shishu Mandir said, “Vedanta, is not only enhancing the health of our students, but also educating the community about traditional wellness practices. We are grateful to Vedanta's unwavering support towards the holistic development of children in the region”.

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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz Arrives In India To Attend Intergovernmental Consultations

by Hemanta Pande

New Delhi, Oct 25: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz arrived in India on Thursday to attend the seventh Intergovernmental Consultations and the 18th Asia Pacific Conference of German Business (APK 2024).

Upon landing in Delhi, Scholz was received by Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai.

Taking to X, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal wrote: "Herzlich willkommen in Neu Delhi! Olaf Scholz of Germany lands in New Delhi for the 7th Intergovernmental Consultations and the 18th Asia Pacific Conference of German Business (APK 2024). Warmly received with a ceremonial welcome by MoS for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai."

Scholz, who visited India twice last year for a bilateral State Visit in February 2023 and to attend the G20 Leaders' Summit in September 2023, will be accompanied by senior ministers in his cabinet during the October 24-26 visit and will also travel to Goa.

On Friday, the German Chancellor will call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his Lok Kalyan Marg residence, following which both leaders will inaugurate and address the 18th Asia Pacific Conference of German Business (APK 2024) that will see the participation of around 650 top business leaders and CEOs from Germany, India, and other countries.

The biennial event for business leaders, executives, and political representatives from Germany and the countries in the Indo-Pacific is expected to give a further fillip to trade and investment ties between our two countries.

After that, there will be a joint plenary session of all participants in the government consultations chaired by the heads of government. The IGC is a whole-of-government framework under which ministers from both sides hold discussions in their respective areas of responsibility and report on the outcome of their deliberations to the Prime Minister and Chancellor.

"Both leaders will hold bilateral talks to discuss enhanced security and defence cooperation, greater opportunities for mobility of talent, deeper economic cooperation, Green and Sustainable Development Partnership and collaboration in the area of emerging and strategic technologies. Discussions will also focus on important regional and global developments," the MEA detailed earlier this week.

The German Chancellor will then travel to Goa on Saturday where the German naval frigate 'Baden-Wuerttemberg' and combat support ship 'Frankfurt am Main' are making a scheduled port call as part of Germany's Indo-Pacific deployment.

"India and Germany have had a strategic partnership since 2000. Over the years, this partnership has deepened and diversified across various sectors. The two countries are celebrating 50 years of Science and Technology collaboration this year. As we enter the 25th year of strategic partnership, the visit of Chancellor Scholz will pave the way for further strengthening of our bilateral ties," the MEA stated.

During his 2023 visits, Scholz was quite impressed by India as a high-tech nation with great expertise in digitalisation and software development.

"We want to and must take advantage of the potential that exists here, which, among other things, will help us to boost the resilience of our own economy," he said following his business meetings in Bangalore.

He has also emphasised Germany's great interest in collaborating with India in other economic sectors such as renewable energies, wind power, solar energy, and biomass.

--IANS

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Cyclone Dana: ASHA Worker In Odisha Carries Elderly Woman On Her Back To Cyclone Shelter, Hailed

by Hemanta Pande

Bhubaneswar, Oct 24: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday hailed ASHA worker Sibani Mandal of Kendrapara district as she rescued an elderly woman and carried the latter on her back to the cyclone shelter ahead of the severe cyclonic storm ‘Dana’.

“ASHA sister Sibani Mandal of Khasmunda Village under Rajnagar Block, bravely made an effort to protect people from the storm; she is an inspiration to all,” CM Majhi posted on X.

ରାଜ୍ଯର ସୁରକ୍ଷା ପାଇଁ ଆଗେଇ ଆସିଛନ୍ତି ମାତୃଶକ୍ତି

ରାଜନଗର ବ୍ଲକ ଖାସମୁଣ୍ଡା ଗ୍ରାମର ଆଶା ଭଉଣୀ ଶିବାନୀ ମଣ୍ଡଳ ଅଦମ୍ୟ ସାହସର ସହ ବାତ୍ୟାରୁ ଲୋକଙ୍କୁ ସୁରକ୍ଷିତ ରଖିବା ପାଇଁ କରିଥିବା ପ୍ରୟାସ ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ଏକ ପ୍ରେରଣା। #CycloneDana #OdishaBravesDana pic.twitter.com/AUjkNsrdIE — Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) October 24, 2024

The State’s Health and Family Welfare Department also praised the ASHA worker for her dedication towards saving lives ahead of the severe cyclonic storm.

“ASHA member, Ms Sibani Mandal from Khasmunda village of Talachua Subcentre, Rajnagar Block, Kendrapada district, evacuted one elderly woman to cyclone shelter today on 24th October, 2024. Her dedication towards saving lives is commendable,” the Health Department posted on X.

#ASHA member, Ms Sibani Mandal from Khasmunda village of Talachua Subcentre, Rajnagar Block, Kendrapada district, evacuted one elderly woman to cyclone shelter today on 24th October, 2024. Her dedication towards saving lives is commendable. #CycloneDana #OdishaCares @CMO_Odisha pic.twitter.com/PjvdWPglXW — H & FW Dept Odisha (@HFWOdisha) October 24, 2024

As many as 842 permanent cyclone shelters and 6,443 temporary relief centres have been made operational to accommodate the evacuated people in the State. As many as 4,17,626 lakh people have been evacuated in Odisha by 9PM, officials said.

According to the Indian Meteorological Department's latest bulletin, severe cyclone 'Dana' moved north-northwestwards with a speed of 13 kmph during past 6 hours and lay centred about 90 km southeast of Paradip (Odisha), 110 km south-southeast of Dhamara (Odisha) and 210 km south of Sagar Island (West Bengal).