5 security personnel killed in Chhattisgarh Maoist attack

Lok Sabha has passed the Finance Bill 2021 today which give effect to the financial proposals of the Central Government for the year 2021-22.Replying to discussion on the Bill, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the government is committed to simplify the taxation compliance procedures.She also said, government is taking all measures to widen the tax base in the country. She said, rationalization in the taxation system would encourage Ease of Doing Business in the country. Responding to comments made by the members on the issues related to GST, Ms. Sitharaman said that the Centre alone has no role in deciding the changes in the GST structure.She added that GST council collectively decides on the tax structure after detailed deliberations on the proposals.On the issue of bringing petrol and diesel under the GST ambit, the Minister said, the States can bring this issue before the GST council for discussion.

-The  Union Cabinet was apprised on the progress under National Health Mission (NHM) during Financial Year 2019-2020 including accelerated decline in Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR), Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), Under Five Mortality Rate (U5MR)  and Total Fertility Rate (TFR). It also noted the progress in respect of various diseases programmes like  Malaria, Kala-Azar, Dengue, Tuberculosis, Leprosy, Viral Hepatitis among others.The implementation strategy of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare under NHM is to provide financial and technical support to States  and Union Territories (UTs) enabling them to provide accessible, affordable and effective healthcare upto District Hospitals (DHs), especially to the poor and vulnerable sections.The implementation of NHM in 2019-20 lead to engagement of 18 thousand 779 additional Human Resources which includes General Duty Medical Officers, Specialists, ANMs, Staff Nurses and  AYUSH Doctors. 

-In Punjab, after  the 81% of the latest 401 samples sent by the state for genome sequencing  turned up positive for the new UK Covid variant, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has appealed to the people to get themselves vaccinated, even as he urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to widen the vaccination ambit to cover those younger than 60 since this mutant has been found to be infecting young people more.Expressing concern over the emerging situation, the Chief Minister stressed the need for the central government to urgently open up the vaccination for a bigger section of the populace. The process needs to be expedited, he said, pointing to the fact that experts had found the existing Covishield vaccine to be equally effective against the UK variant - B.1.1.7. It was essential to vaccinate more and more people to break the chain of transmission, he added.Captain Amarinder also urged the people to strictly adhere to all Covid safety protocols, including wearing of masks and maintaining social distancing. He warned, the state government, which has already announced fresh restrictions, would be forced to impose more curbs if the people do not follow the Covid appropriate behaviour.

-In Chhattisgarh, five security personnel were killed and 12 others were injured in a Maoist attack on Tuesday. The incident took place in Narayanpur district of Bastar region Tuesday  evening when a bus carrying about 25 jawans of District Reserve Guard was heading to district headquarter Narayanpur. Maoists triggered three powerful blasts targeting the bus on Kanhargaon- Kadenar road near Dhaudai when the forces were returning after an anti-Maoist operation.Three jawans including the driver of the bus were killed on the spot, while two other succumbed to their injuries during the treatment in Narayanpur hospital.Three critically injured jawans were airlifted to state capital Raipur for better treatment.

-The death toll in the Rohingya refugee camp fire that took place late on Monday has gone up to 15.Another 400 are still missing adn 560 are injured, said the UN Refugee agency on Tuesday.The UNHCR said that it is rushing to provide critical support and protection to some 45,000 Rohingya refugees who lost their shelter and belongings in the devastating fire.At least 10,000 shelters are estimated to have been destroyed or damaged but the figures are expected to climb in the coming days as assessments continue.A massive fire swept through the Rohingya refugee camp at Uikhya in Cox’s Bazar area of Bangladesh on Monday rendering thousands of people homeless. The started at the Balukhali camp in Cox’s Bazar late on Monday.