Medical Colleges in Odisha reopened

Guru Nanak Jayanti or Gurpurab was celebrated with religious fervour across India and the world on Monday. It marks the birth of the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak, who laid the foundation of Sikhism. This year marks the 551st birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. On this day, devotees around the world offer prayers. The Golden temple in Amritsar celebrates Gurpurab with much aplomb.President Ram Nath Kovind has extended his greetings and best wishes to all the citizens living in India and abroad, especially the brothers and sisters of the Sikh community on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev.The President said that Guru Nanak Dev gave the basic mantra of ‘Ek Onkar’ to his followers and insisted on treating all human beings equally, without discriminating on the basis of caste, creed and gender. Mr Kovind said that his message of 'Naam Japo, Kirat Karo and Vand Chhako' contains the essence of all his teachings.

-The One Nation One Ration Card scheme commenced in Andaman and Nicobar Islands on Monday. The Aadhar Enabled Biometric e-POS machines have been installed at nearly 50 shops in the islands. The Director, Department of Civil Supply Dr. Navlendra Kumar Singh informed about the same and affirmed that work is being rapidly done to set up these e-POS machines at all 458 Fair Price Shops of the islands. The work is likely to be completed by 15th December. Mr Singh further added that it was difficult to implement the scheme in the islands due to connectivity issues but after having high speed internet through undersea cable in August, the project got momentum.

-The public sector aerospace manufacturing company, the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited delivered the biggest cryogenic propellant tank C 32 LH 2 to the Indian Space Research Organisation in Bengaluru today. The biggest cryogenic propellant tank of aluminium alloy is designed for improving the payload capability of GSLV MK III heavy lift satellite launch vehicle of ISRO. The tank was handed over by HAL Director(Operations) M S Velpari to Director(LPSC) Dr. V Narayanan of ISRO in virtual mode on Monday.The tank designed by HAL can load 5755 kg propellant fuel in the 89 cubic meter volume. Even earlier HAL had partnered with ISRO to supply satellite structures for the PSLV, GSLV Mark II and III launch vehicles. At present both the organisations are involved in various new projects like semi-cryo structure fabrication and manufacturing of cryo and semi cryo engines. HAL is also developing Crew atmospheric re-entry experiment, crew escape module for the human space mission Gaganyaan.

-The government of Bangladesh has announced that it will provide 3 crore doses of COVID 19 vaccine to people free of charge.Briefing media after the Cabinet meeting Chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam said that the government has already given the consent to procure 3 crore doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID 19 vaccine from the Serum Institute of India (SII) for which Taka 735.77 crore has been allocated.Giving details about the distribution of the vaccine, the Cabinet Secretary said that the government will follow the protocol set by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to select the people to be vaccinated. He said that frontline workers like health service providers and police personnel will be given priority in vaccination.

-The Odisha government has allowed re-opening of medical colleges across the state from Tuesday(Decmber 1), even as it authorised the School & Mass Education and Higher Education departments to decide on resumption of classroom teachings.COVID-19 safety protocols will have to be followed in the medical institutes."All medical colleges of the state shall reopen with effect from 1st December, 2020. Medical college authorities shall follow all the SOPs/guidelines with respect to social distancing and prevention of spread of epidemic issued by the central/state government, scrupulously," a government order said on Monday. The government asked the School and Mass Education Department to consult all stakeholders and decide on the date of re-opening of schools for classes from 9 to 12 in a graded manner.Similarly, the Department of Higher Education was also authorised to take the decision about re-opening of colleges and higher education institutes in consultation with the relevant stakeholders, the order said.