Excited About UK Visit, Will Visit 'Ambedkar House': PM Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate Ambedkar Memorial during UK visit.

New Delhi:  In an effort to reach out to the Dalits, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today invoked BR Ambedkar in the context of his upcoming trip to Britain, saying he was excited about it as he would be visiting the Dalit icon's house there.

"A day after Diwali (November 11), I am going to Britain.... I am excited about my visit to Britain and the reason for it is special. A few weeks back, I had gone to Mumbai to lay foundation stone for a big memorial for Ambedkar....

"Now, in London, I will formally inaugurate the house where Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar lived, which recently became Indian government's property and a place of inspiration for 125 crore Indians," he said.

On his first visit to Britain, Prime Minister Modi is expected to have a two-day stay there before travelling to Turkey to attend the G-20 Summit. During his visit to Britain, he will hold talks with Prime Minister David Cameron and meet other leaders besides addressing the Indian diaspora at Wembley stadium.

He noted that the issue related to acquisition of 'Ambedkar House' had been entangled for several years and now it is the property of 125 crore Indians.

"When Ambedkar's name is associated, you can imagine how much happiness people like me have," the Prime Minister said.

He said Ambedkar was an inspiration for the dalits, the oppressed, the deprived, the backwards and all other Indians who live a difficult life that if there is will power, one can make progress in life and get educated. "This is the place (in London) where Ambedkar did his devotion."

The Prime Minister said the central government also encourages capable Dalit youth. 

Courtesy:ndtv.com

Data on the representation of Other Backward Classes in Central Government Services - Meeting taken by the Parliamentary Committee of Welfare of Other Backward Classes held on 14.10.2015.

Documents copy marked to SC/ST association is a welcome gesture

Address Indian edifice shortfalls through Dr Ambedkar’s three-point correctives, says VP Ansari on 18.10.2015

Vice President M. Hamid Ansari on Saturday called for the implementation of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s three-point corrective – using constitutional methods of achieving social and economic objectives, not laying our liberties at the feet of even a great man and making our political democracy a social democracy as well – in order to address the shortfalls that are corroding the edifice so diligently put in place by the Founding Fathers of the Republic.
Addressing the Third Convocation of the Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU) here, Ansari said the Constitution of India embodies the modern concept of rule of law with the establishment of a judicial system, which should be able to work impartially and free from all influences, adding that the constitutional and juridical framework were thus impeccable.

Questioning the extent to which we as a polity are implementing the principles and procedures of rule of law in actual practice, the Vice President said that both in terms of procedural technicalities, and substantive content, there a sense of unease with regard to the working of the rule of law.

The answer, Ansari said, is to be sought in the functioning, or malfunctioning, of the institutions of the state.
Quoting a United Nations Research Institute for Social Development study, he said Parliament is increasingly becoming ineffective in providing surveillance of the executive branch of the government.
With regard to the executive, he opined that the balance between its political and professional components has been disturbed and was evident in the functioning of the civil service and particularly of the police.
As for the judiciary, Ansari said that while the traditional public esteem for the judiciary has been reinforced by its activism in contrast to the failure of the executive, particularly in expanding the ambit of rights, lack of access to justice, the high cost of it, delays in the delivery of justice, lack of a mechanism for accountability and allegations of corruption have, together, given rise to doubts and added to the pervasive pessimism about the efficacy of institutions. Another area of concern is the excessive zeal reflected at times in pronouncements of members of the judiciary, he added.
The event was attended by the Chief Justice of India, H.L. Dattu, the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Dr. Raman Singh, the Chief Justice of the High Court of Chhattisgarh, Mr. Justice Navin Sinha, the state’s Higher Education Minister, Prem Prakash Pandey, Chhattisgarh Law Ministeri Mahesh Gagda, HNLU the Vice Chancellor Dr. Sukh Pal Singh, HNLU Registrar Dr. Deepak Kumar Srivastava and other dignitaries.

New block inaugurated at Dr Ambedkar Institute of Hotel Management

CHANDIGARH: Dr Ambedkar Institute of Hotel Management inaugurated its additional block on Tuesday. It has been added to cater to the needs for supplementing the space for classrooms and laboratories arising from increased intake of students with 27% reservations for OBC candidates.

UT adviser Vijay Kumar Dev inaugurated the new block spread over an area of 11,306 square feet and comprises three floors along with basement that have classrooms and practical laboratories. The entire project cost Rs 991.15 lakh, funded by ministry of tourism.

Dev inspected the building and spoke to the students about the importance of inculcating new technology and adding new infrastructure to the existing so that students get updated knowledge with the latest technologies available.

Bharti Tyagi, principal of the institute, said, "Education is one of the most powerful weapons which one can use to change the world." She also ensured the new block will be well equipped with all the state-of-the-art facilities like modern laboratories, training restaurant, training kitchens, laundry, dining hall, smart classrooms with multi-media facilities in due course of time.

Courtesy:TOI

Centre asks schools, varsities to observe November 26 as Constitution Day

"To celebrate the occasion in a befitting manner, a national committee was constituted under the PM, which has recommended that the following activities be undertaken in your esteemed university," read the University Grants Commission (UGC) circular issued to universities on September 23. The circular also directed the varsities to submit an action taken report to UGC by October 15.

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• A file photo of Dr BR Ambedkar with his wife Dr Sharada Kabir

The central government has directed schools, colleges and universities across India to celebrate November 26 as the Constitution Day every year to spread awareness about the Constitution among youths. India's constitution was adopted by the constituent assembly on November 26, 1949, and it came into force on January 26, 1950.
On the Constitution Day, educational institutions will ensure that the document's preamble is read on their campuses and will also organise seminars on the topic. A national committee chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the decision in this regard. The move aims at honouring Dr BR Ambedkar, the chief architect of the Indian Constitution, on his 125th birth anniversary.
"To celebrate the occasion in a befitting manner, a national committee was constituted under the PM, which has recommended that the following activities be undertaken in your esteemed university," read the University Grants Commission (UGC) circular issued to universities on September 23. The circular also directed the varsities to submit an action taken report to UGC by October 15.
According to the sources, The BJP-led central government has been working hard to appropriate the legacy of Ambedkar, with an eye on the Dalit vote bank ahead of the crucial UP and Bihar Assembly polls. The Dalits in the two states have largely been supporting regional parties, which are in power at present, and the Congress.
Congress is trying its best to not lose any ground. In June, the party had organised a big event in Ambekdar's birthplace Mhow (MP) to celebrate the centenary of his post-graduation from the Columbia University. Party's national vice-president Rahul Gandhi had turned it into a major event – as a milestone in India's history – a move that surprised many. The party also launched a career guidance centre in the name of the noted leader in Mumbai recently.
SC/ST students may be encouraged to study at private varsities
Admission of students belonging to SC/ST in private universities may be encouraged, says the circular citing committee's recommendation. The decision, however, has raised many eyebrows. "Is the Union government implying that private universities are better than the Central and state Universities?" asked a professor of Mumbai University. Another professor commented, "The government reimburses the fee of SC/ST students in the state-run and Centrally funded institutions. Is the government going to reimburse the fee for private universities also, which charge a hefty amount?

Gautam Buddha's ashes to travel from Sri Lanka to Maharashtra next week

The mortal remains will be brought to Nagpur, ahead of the international Buddhist conference, and then taken in a rath to various districts in state and also to neighbouring Raipur

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• A graphical representation of the rath in which Gautam Buddha’s mortal remains will be taken across the state

Presenting a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the people of Maharashtra, especially the Buddhists, Gautam Buddha's ashes will be being brought to India next week for a 10-day trip of Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh.
The urn containing the mortal remains will be brought to Nagpur airport on October 14. Then, it will be taken on a rath across the state, covering Nagpur, Bhandara, Sakoli, Gondia, Chandrapur, Rajnandgaon, Durg, Bhilai and Raipur. It will return to Dragan Palace in Kamptee and then Nagpur, and will be sent back to Sri Lanka on October 24.
Minister for social justice and special assistance Raj Kumar Badole is instrumental in making this trip happen. "I visited Sri Lanka last month and met the organisers of the Lankan Mahabodhi Society. They agreed to facilitate this trip. This is the first time the ashes of Buddha and his disciples will be on display."
Buddhist groups in India are coordinating the programme. The ashes will be on display at the first International Buddhists Conference 2015 in Nagpur on October 20-21, a day before Dussehra. Nagpur is where Dr BR Ambedkar accepted Buddhism on October 14, 1956, along with several followers.
"India is where Buddha spent his life, attained enlightenment and mahaparinirvan. This is the land where Buddhism took birth. The government is supporting the event with an aim to project our heritage," said Badole, who is also a follower of Buddha.
The urn will have tight security, said Badole. Insurance cover has also been given, though the amount could not be obtained immediately.
The ashes coming to India belong to Neelagiri Seya, the largest Buddhist Stupa in the eastern province of Sri Lanka. The stupa, located in the Lahugala Forest Reserve, has been neglected for over three decades, owing to LTTE activities in the area. It is supposed to be built in third century BC. It was excavated by the country's archaeological department a couple of years back.
On the historical significance of these ashes, Yojna Bhagat, a professor of Pali and Buddhist studies at Mumbai university, said, "These are not ashes but relics of Buddha. When Buddha died in 6th century BC, his ashes were distributed in eight parts for eight royal kingdoms and preserved at eight different stupas in North India. In 3rd century BC, King Ashoka dug out one stupa and redistributed the relics to 84,000 places across the world, which helped spread Buddhism. His son Mahendra took a tooth relic of Buddha to Sri Lanka, which is still kept in a big temple. Relics which were found much later in the archaeological excavation in Lanka are often taken abroad for followers."
"The relics in India are bound to stupas. A few excavated by the Archeological Survey of India are kept in museums and at the Golden Pagoda in Gorai and are not allowed to travel," added Bh

Government Releases Stamp on Dr Ambedkar; to Release Coin on Him

New Delhi:  Government today released a commemorative postal stamp on Dr BR Ambedkar and said it will come out with a coin in his honour.

Communications and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad released the stamp. The government is celebrating 125th birth anniversary of Dr Ambedkar this year.

The coin is slated to be released in honour of the legendary social reformer and approval from the Finance Ministry has already been received.

"The approval from Finance Ministry was received three days back to come out with a coin in honour of Dr Ambedkar," Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Thawar Chand Gehlot said.

Speaking during the occasion, Mr Prasad also questioned why Bharat Ratna was given to Dr Ambedkar so late after his death. Dr Ambedkar was given the highest civilian award in 1990 whereas he died in 1956. 

Courtesy:NDTV.COM

Grant of informal meeting with Honorable PMG, Hyderabad Region, Hyderabad-500001

Commemorative Stamp on former President of India, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam

he Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi released the commemorative stamp on the former President of India, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, on his 84th birth anniversary celebrations, at DRDO Bhawan, in New Delhi on 15th October, 2015. The Union Ministers, Shri Manohar Parrikar, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad and Dr. Harsh Vardhan were also present on the occasion.

Deputation of Sri M.Venkateswarlu, PMG Kochi to AP State Govt

bhogapuram-village

Andhra Pradesh government, which has fast tracked the development of International Airport at Bhogapuram , Viziangaram district, has appointed  Sri.M Venkateswaralu, an Indian Postal Service officer, as the managing director. A 1992 batch IPoS officer, Vekateswarlu is now postmaster general in Kerala. It may be recalled here government recently has set up Bhogapuram International Airport Corporation Limited (BIACL) to implement the airport development project.Sri. Venkateswarlu will also look after the Inland Water Ways Authority works also. Government has authorized the BIACL to approach the lending institution to mobilize loans for the construction of the airport. With the appointment of Venkateswarlu, the works are expected to be expedited

Reiteration of the instructions on verification of claims of candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes for purpose of appointment to posts/services

No scrapping of quota, says Modi

Mr. Modi’s remark comes a day before 49 Assembly segments in Bihar will go to polls on Monday in the first of the five-phased State elections.

Arguing that the BJP had done more to preserve the legacy of Dr B.R. Ambedkar than its political rivals, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, ruled out scrapping of reservation system and attacked BJP’s political opponents for spreading malicious propaganda that reservations could end if BJP is voted to power.

Mr. Modi’s remark comes a day before 49 Assembly segments in Bihar will go to polls on Monday in the first of the five-phased State elections, and rivals JD(U) and the RJD Dal have made reservations for backward classes a poll issue. “Jo bhi Ambedkar ne diya usko koi rok nahi sakta (Whatever Ambedkar has given us, and no one can take it away),” Mr. Modi said .

He was speaking at a public rally at MMRDA grounds after laying the foundation stones for two new Mumbai metro projects that will decongest western suburbs.

The BJP leader, who paid homage to Dr. Ambedkar at Chaityabhoomi, and laid the foundation stone of Dr Ambedkar memorial at Indu Mills in Dadar, devoted a considerable part of the speech to Dr Ambedkar. Describing him as “Mahapurush”, Mr. Modi said the social reformer faced a life of hardship and constant struggle, but harboured no bitterness or sought revenge when he wrote the Constitution.

“If Babasaheb Ambedkar wasn't there, where would Modi be? Where would ordinary people like us be without Dr Ambedkar?” he said describing BJP’s recent initiatives to invoke Dr Ambedkar’s legacy as an attempt to pay back with gratitude.

Mr. Modi announced that November 26, the day the Constitution came into force, would be celebrated in a big way as the Samvidhan Divas in all schools across the country. “If we call Ambedkar as belonging to Dalits in the absence of a long term vision, it will be a great injustice to him. He belonged to everyone,” he said.

Mr. Modi said his government had planned to develop and preserve five landmarks in Dr Ambedkar’s life, referring to them as “Panchteerth”.

Apart from Indu Mill memorial, he named Dr Ambedkar’s birthplace in Mau, Madhya Pradesh, his Alipur Road residence in New Delhi, his parents’village in coastal Maharashtra, and his London house where he stayed during his stint at the London School of Economics now purchased by the Maharashtra government.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also announced that his government would scrap the criminal cases lodged against Ambedkarite groups who staged several agitations demanding the memorial at Indu Mill.

courtesy:The Hindu

Honorable Prime Minister Sri.Narendra Modi speech at Dr.B.R.Ambedkar on 11.10.2015

DR B R Ambedkar & Poona Pact---original Speech

The Poona Pact refers to an agreement between Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi signed on 24 September 1932 at Yerwada Central Jail in Pune (now in Maharashtra), India. It was signed by Pt Madan Mohan Malviya and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and some Dalit leaders to break the fast unto death undertaken by Gandhi in Yerwada jail to annul Macdonald Award giving separate electorate to Dalits for electing members of state legislative assemblies in British India.
To draft a new Constitution involving self-rule for the native Indians, the British invited leaders of different parties in the Round Table Conferences in 1930-32. Mahatma Gandhi did not attend the first and last but attended the second of the Conferences. The concept of separate electorates for the Untouchables was raised by Dr. Ambedkar. Similar provisions were already available for other minorities, including Muslims, Christians, Anglo-Indians and Sikhs. The British government agreed with Ambedkar's contention, and British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald's Communal Award to the depressed classes was to be incorporated into the constitution in the governance of British India. Gandhi strongly opposed the Communal Award on the grounds that it would disintegrate Hindu society. He began an indefinite hunger strike at Yerwada Central Jail from September 20, 1932 to protest against this Award. A compromise was reached on September 24, 1932.
The text uses the term "Depressed Classes" to denote Untouchables who were later called Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes under India Act 1935, and the later Indian Constitution of 1950.
Courtesy:Wikipedia.org

Maharashtra Government Buys BR Ambedkar's London Home For Rs. 35

A house on King Henry road in London would be the last thing an owner would want to part with. But to make the three-storey bungalow where Dalit icon and architect of Indian Constitution, BR Ambedkar lived as a student in the 1920s, as their own, the Maharashtra government had to do some hard bargaining. For Rs. 35 crore, the state government became the first in India to own a property abroad.

New Chaitya Bhoomi in memory of Dr.B.R.Ambedkar

File Photo: Dr BR Ambedkar

Mumbai:  The laying of the foundation stone for a memorial here to iconic leader Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to be held today at Indu Mills compound.

Maharashtra Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar told PTI that the Prime Minister's two programmes on the day in Mumbai are likely to be the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the Bharat Ratna Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Memorial and another function of the Bohra community.

The state government had earlier planned the function this year on April 14, the birth anniversary of Dr Ambedkar, the chief architect of the Indian Constitution.

But the event was postponed due to the foreign visits of PM Modi and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The 12.5 acre plot in the Indu mill compound that belonged to National Textile Corporation (NTC) was transferred to the state government in 2012.

The BJP-led government, which completes its first year in office on October 31, plans to showcase the project as one of its major achievements.

India Post celebrates National Postal Week from 9 - 15 October, 2015.

World Post Day message from the UPU Director General

Berne, 9 October 2015Innovation, Integration and Inclusion are the key drivers for the future of the Post

As we celebrate World Post Day today, we can look back with satisfaction on a rich history of transformation in the Post, which has always been able to find its place in the world market. Indeed, the Post can pride itself on being the oldest medium of communication, one that still plays a key role in the sending of information and goods.

From liberalization to privatization and the emergence of competition, the Post has faced many challenges to its survival, but none so daunting as the development of modern information technology. Today, the traditional postal business line – letter post – has been greatly challenged by faster and more efficient ways of communication thanks to advancements in information and communications technologies.

However, successful Posts have taken these challenges as opportunities to innovate and establish new market segments, understanding that a faster and more efficient communication medium is actually what the Post needs in order to build a new business value chain.

The transformation has not come easily. Indeed, there are still many Posts that have yet to take full advantage of new technologies to improve their business performance. Nevertheless, the message is loud and clear: the survival of the Post hinges on its ability to quickly change and innovate. Customer expectations, needs and tastes are changing, and the Post must change as well to meet these new demands.

With that realization, the Universal Postal Union, in its draft World Postal Strategy for 2017–2020, has identified postal industry reform as the key driver for the future. In its blueprint, Vision 2020, the UPU focuses on Innovation, Integration and Inclusion as the main factors that will drive postal business in the future.

The reality is that the future of the Post strongly depends on its ability to innovate and create new products and services. One of the keys to innovation will be the Post’s capacity to embrace new technologies and transfer its trusted brands into the digital space. To achieve this, it will be critical for the Post to develop digital competencies, along with the relevant regulatory frameworks that will support the new environment.

For successful integration, the Post will need to build a seamless network that is connected both virtually and physically, and that has a local and international presence. Full integration calls for the involvement of all key players in the postal supply chain, including customs and transport, and the facilitation of cross-border e-commerce.

With the United Nations’ new Sustainable Development Goals, which have been embraced by world leaders, the Post today has an even more relevant role to play as an infrastructure for development. Given its universal nature, the Post is best placed to drive the economic, social, financial and digital inclusion of all citizens of the world. Through its vast network, the Post should target micro, small and medium-sized enterprises as well as the unbanked population as a new business frontier and create appropriate products to support the market. Achieving success in this area is one of the best ways to ensure the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, for the benefit of the global community.

The future of the Post starts now. We must all work towards creating products and services that meet the needs of our current and future customers. Let us focus on innovation, integration and inclusion in our business to create a strong Post for the future. Only in doing so will the Post be able to achieve success and maintain its place in the world market, with a presence that continues to be visible and relevant.

I wish you a happy World Post Day.