Indian foreign aid and development assistance programs

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@biswas_k11 Read the title of the thread, don't post unrelated stuff.

 

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Kurdistan seeks India’s help in fight against Islamic State

The Kurdistan Regional Government had played a key part in securing the release of nurses from Kerala who were caught in an area that the IS had taken control of.

NEW DELHI: The government in Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region has sought India's security-related assistance in the fight against the Islamic State as well as humanitarian aid for thousands who have taken refuge there after fleeing from IS-controlled territories in Iraq and Syria.

The request from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) comes ahead of the ongoing Iraq trip of MJ Akbar, the minister of state for external affairs, in the first highlevel visit from India to the embattled country in years. The KRG has sought humanitarian aid to help provide food, medicines and other essentials to more than 1.8 million refugees who have taken shelter in the region after fleeing the areas occupied by IS, Indian officials said.

Falah Mustafa Bakir, who heads the Department of Foreign Relations in the regional government, recently met Deepak Miglani, the newly appointed Consul General of India in the Kurdistan capital of Erbil, to explain the role of Kurdish armed forces in the fight against IS, the officials said. In 2014, the KRG had played a key part in securing the release of nurses from Kerala who were caught in an area that the IS had taken control of.

The Indian security establishment has been in touch with their counterparts in KRG to locate 39 Indians still missing in Iraq's conflict zone. Kurdistan expects Delhi to provide hardware for the fight against IS, the sources here said. While India has conveyed its solidarity with the KRG in the fight against IS and wants to deepen its political and economic engagement with the region, the Narendra Modi government has not made up its mind on the request for military assistance, they said.

READ MORE:
Syria|New Delhi|Narendra Modi|MJ Akbar|Kurdistan Regional Government|Kurdistan|Kerala

 

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Afghans push India for more arms, despite Pakistan’s wary eye
Shaida Mohammad Abdali, the Afghan ambassador to India, said regional security was deteriorating and Afghan national forces were in dire need of military supplies to tackle the Taliban, Islamic State and other militant groups.
BY: REUTERS | NEW DELHI |Published On:August 23, 2016 6:11 AM

India is set to deliver more arms to Afghanistan to help it fight Islamist militants, Kabul’s envoy to New Delhi said, even if Pakistan is wary of closer military cooperation between countries lying to its east and west. India has provided a little over $2 billion in economic assistance to Afghanistan in the last 15 years, but has been more measured in providing weapons in order to avoid a backlash from Pakistan, which sees Afghanistan as its area of influence.

Last December, after years of dragging its feet, New Delhi announced the supply of four attack helicopters in India’s first transfer of lethal equipment to the government in Kabul since the hardline Islamist Taliban movement was toppled. Kabul immediately deployed three of the Russian Mi-25 attack helicopters to go after insurgents, and the fourth will be inducted in the next few weeks.

Shaida Mohammad Abdali, the Afghan ambassador to India, said regional security was deteriorating and Afghan national forces were in dire need of military supplies to tackle the Taliban, Islamic State and other militant groups. “We are grateful for the four helicopters. But we need more, we need much more. Today we are heading into a situation that is worrisome for everyone in the region including India,” he told Reuters in an interview.

On August 29, the head of the Afghan army, General Qadam Shah Shahim, is expected in New Delhi to submit a list of military equipment drawn up in consultation with the US military, Indian defence officials said. It is not yet clear how much would be paid for and how much would be handed over for free.

The equipment includes more Mi-25s, smaller helicopters used for transporting troops and medical emergencies, and spares for existing Russian-origin aircraft in the Afghan air force fleet. “The agenda for the army chief’s visit is clear. We will be finalising the enhancement of defence ties,” Abdali said. India, he added, had told the Afghans that it would do whatever it could to meet the security forces’ requirements.

INDIAN LEADER RANKLES PAKISTAN

The fact that much of the proposed equipment originates from Russia need not be a stumbling block to an agreement, the United States has said, despite Western sanctions against Moscow. Russia and the United States share a common goal in stabilising Afghanistan, and India can act as a go-between to help re-equip Afghan forces which fall well short of the capacity required despite billions of dollars in US spending.

The Afghan government lost control or influence of nearly 5 per cent of its territory between January and May, the US government’s top watchdog on Afghanistan said in a report, highlighting the challenges its forces are facing. But the move to increase cooperation with Afghanistan is likely to aggravate fears in Pakistan of being wedged between two hostile neighbours. Relations with both countries have cooled lately.

Afghanistan says Pakistan must do more to stop militants operating on its territory, while India has blamed Pakistan for unrest in the disputed region of Kashmir. Prime Miniister Narendra Modi turned up the dial a notch by making a rare reference to Pakistan’s restive Baluchistan province in a recent speech. Asked about the prospect of closer military ties between Afghanistan and India, a Pakistan foreign ministry spokesman said the government did not comment on bilateral ties between two countries.

Once America, now Afghanistan is asking to do more.
Kya din aa gaye hain pakiyon ke.

But he warned against attempts to destabilise Pakistan, which, like its arch-rival India, has a nuclear arsenal. “Our expectation is that India should not be allowed to use Afghan soil to create instability in Pakistan.” According to an Indian defence ministry official, discussions with Kabul included the possibility of increasing the number of Afghan officers being trained in Indian military institutions each year from around 800 now.

US SUPPORT

The United States, which has allocated more than $68 billion to train and equip the Afghan security forces since 2002, has welcomed greater Indian military assistance to fill shortfalls in hardware and personnel. Earlier this month, the commander of US forces in Afghanistan, General John Nicholson, held talks with Indian officials to find ways in which New Delhi could help the Afghan air force, which is struggling to maintain ageing Russian aircraft because of sanctions on Moscow.

Nicholson said donor nations had contributed $4.5 billion to Afghanistan, but those funds could not be used to buy Russian aircraft or spare parts because of the restrictions triggered by the conflict in Ukraine. India is not constrained by such considerations and can export Russian-made equipment it already owns or source hardware and spares from Russia to send on to Afghanistan.

“Any additional aircraft or spare parts that India can provide Afghanistan would be greatly appreciated and welcomed by them to help build and maintain the Afghan Air Force,” Nicholson said at the end of his trip. A Russian diplomat said Moscow supported efforts to strengthen Afghan forces, even if it cannot directly equip it.

“Our policy is simple; we would not like to be involved directly, but we would support any initiative that strengthens the ability of the Afghan authorities to fight against terrorist groups and stabilize the situation in the country,” the diplomat said.

 

[busesaway]

No not at all. We are not a small isolated country. We are a potential super power and we have our interests in each and every corner of the world. We need to propagate our soft power as well. So some help either in terms of Humanitarian aid or help in education or in fighting terror or in the strengthening the military of other country may be very very useful for them. That will increase our influence as well and we shall have our influence in that country and we can protect our interest better. e.g Maldive is a small country but has a great potential to harm indian interest. We must have a very very strong influence over there to protect our interest. For that, we may help them in various areas.

The country might be a potential super power, but that doesn't mean that India should be liberal as if it were already a superpower. Sadly, the money and power have arrived yet.

There's no need to provide aid since poverty is still rampant. The only aid should be aid that only the country can uniquely provide or where the country has a surplus stockpile. Anything provided should help development.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

The country might be a potential super power, but that doesn't mean that India should be liberal as if it were already a superpower.

Exactly and that's why we are not giving aid at aggressive percentages like developed countries. Aid given is even not a fraction of our annual budget.
We will be increasing it slowly slowly as our country goes ahead. We already have a high GDP per capita growth and HDI improvement rate
(India is ahead of South Africa in terms of inequality adjusted HDI FYI).
We have reached here with our own attempts and policies and will do whatever we decide cuz we aren't fools.
Still, thanks for your advice but sorry.

Sadly, the money and power have arrived yet.

We have one of largest conventional forces in the world, a substantially large rocketed economy and an active space program.
Don't wanna offend you but money and power has already reached when compared to Brazil and South Africa.

We lag in that superpower narrative where we are in catch up league.

There's no need to provide aid since poverty is still rampant.

As told before, India invests just $1.6 billions over a population of 1.3 billions.
As far as poverty is concerned, it dropped to 12.3% from 21.9% (some sources suggested just 7.7%).
So, we are getting over it as well.
Never mind about per capita income growth rate. It's very high.

The only aid should be aid that only the country can uniquely provide or where the country has a surplus stockpile.

Well, partially true.
Most of India's donations are allocated to strategically important regions or where India is trying to get involved like you can see in Syrian crisis. Rest is done to buy influence or countries which can help in long term strategy.
Just spend to buy their loyality.

Anything provided should help development.

Must serve our national interest before their development (case of our development is different. We apply any mean method for it.:biggrin2.

There's no place of morality in Diplomacy. Serve your national interests. For it, push ahead or hunt down any country you need.

No offense intended. Regards.
Namaste

 

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India gives Vietnam $500m for defence spending

HANOI - India said on Saturday it is giving Vietnam US$500 million in credit to boost defence ties, the latest security deal between the two nations seeking to counter Beijing's muscle-flexing in the South China Sea.

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (C) and Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam (R) visit the Quan Su pagoda in Hanoi, on September 3, 2016

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the announcement during a visit to Hanoi, which has gone on a spending spree in recent years to expand and modernise its military arsenal amid territorial disputes with Beijing in the strategically vital waterway.

"I am also happy to announce a new defence credit for Vietnam of $500 million for facilitating deeper defence cooperation," Modi told reporters after officials signed a raft of agreements, including in technology, cybersecurity and health.

He did not specify details of the arrangement, but traditionally such lines of credit would oblige Vietnam to sign contracts with Indian companies.

About 50 percent of India's trade passes through the South China Sea, where Beijing has built up islands and outcrops capable of supporting military activities, much to the chagrin of Vietnam and other claimants.

Vietnam's Prime Minister praised its close friendship with India Saturday during the visit -- the first by an Indian premier in 15 years and part of New Delhi's "Act East Policy" to strengthen economic and security ties with east Asian neighbours.

"(We) discussed matters concerning the East Sea," Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc told reporters.

"All sides must peacefully solve East Sea disputes based on international laws," he added of the contested waterway, where the Philippines, Brunei, Taiwan and Malaysia also have claims.

The latest defence deal follows a similar announcement in 2014 when India agreed to give Vietnam a $100 million line of credit to buy naval patrol boats, a move that likely rankled China.

Beijing has previously criticised India's cooperation with Vietnam in the defence sector, and India has its own frosty history with China following a brief but bloody border war in 1962.

Vietnam was the eighth largest importer of arms between 2011 and 2015, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, up from a rank of 43 in the previous five year period.

More than 90 percent of its equipment comes from its traditional ally Russia, followed by Ukraine and then Spain.

It is increasingly looking to new partners to replace or update Soviet-era military equipment, including the United States which lifted a Cold War-era arms embargo in May during a visit by President Barack Obama.

 

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Indian Navy provides relief to fire disaster-hit Madagascar

Indian Naval Ship Trikand of the Western Fleet came as a rescue to fire disaster-hit Ambilobe during its visit to East Africa and Southern Indian Ocean. The ship was at Antsiranana from August to September 3 enhance bilateral ties with Madagascar.

The recent calamity at Ambilobe, a region about 140 Km from Antsiranana, saw bush fires resulting in extensive damage to property and livelihood. In support of the government and the people of Madagascar, the Indian Navy swung into immediate action to provide succor to more than five thousand affected citizens.

INS Trikand donated essential food items and medicines to the affected populace. The ship is well equipped to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) during such eventualities. Storage of HADR bricks on ships is a SOP and all operational ships carry it at all times. The ship provided rice, jam, tinned fruit, tea, milk, essential medicines etc to the Malagasy authorities at Antsiranana today.

The helping hand by the Indian Navy is in line with the Indian government's and the Navy's policy of immediate and sustainable assistance to all its neighbours in times of need.

 

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India To Supply Arms, Helicopters To Myanmar To Counter Militant Outfits

The Red rebels are being provided with arms and ammunition by the N-E insurgent groups (Image: DailyMail)

India has started supply of advanced weaponry and gadgets to Myanmar Army to force militant outfits to flee their border bases in Myanmar.

India and Myanmar had managed to develop a consensus on several bilateral issues during President U. Htin Kyaw’s New Delhi visit. India was also going to provide helicopters and other advanced gear to strengthen the strike capabilities of the Myanmar Army, Asian Age reported quoting unnamed sources from the home ministry as saying Monday.

Myanmar is confident of making its military headquarters along its borders functional in six months that will reduce the comfort level of Indian insurgents operating from the neighbouring country, the news daily quoted unnamed sources as saying.

The sources said Myanmar had not only promised full military cooperation in tackling militants operating from its territory but also agreed to enhance road connectivity from India to Southeast Asia. Saying India had already succeeded in taking Thailand and other Southeast Asian nations on board regarding the trans-national highways proposed in its “Act East” policy, the security sources said that India had started investing heavily in Myanmar.

 

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India offers $1bn in fresh aid to Afghanistan

Afghan President, Asharf Ghani and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wave during a photo call prior to a meeting in New Delhi. -AFP

NEW DELHI: India offered Afghanistan a fresh $1 billion in economic assistance after their leaders met in New Delhi on Wednesday to strengthen already close ties between the neighbours.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated India's commitment to helping the war-torn country strengthen its education, health, agriculture and other sectors during talks with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.

In a joint statement, India announced the $1 billion offer, but there was no mention of providing weapons to help Afghanistan fight militants, which it has previously asked for.

Modi and Ghani called in the statement for an end to sponsorship and support of militants.

They did not name Pakistan, but they have previously accused their neighbour of supporting Islamic extremists.

“The two leaders discussed the regional situation and expressed grave concern at continued use of terrorism and violence in the region for achieving political objectives,” Indian foreign secretary Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said.

“They called upon the concerned to put an end to all sponsorship, support, safe havens and sanctuaries to terrorists, including for those who target Afghanistan and India,” he told reporters.

The Afghan government has accused Pakistan of supporting the Taliban, while Delhi says Pakistan supports rebels crossing the border into Indian-controlled Kashmir -- claims that Islamabad denies.

Ghani is expected to give a speech to a think tank on “global terrorism” later Wednesday as part of his two-day visit to the capital.

India, the fifth largest bilateral donor in Afghanistan, has been a key supporter of Kabul's government and has poured more than $2 billion into the country since the Taliban was toppled in 2001.

Delhi's active engagement has led analysts to point to the threat of a “proxy war” in Afghanistan between India and its arch-rival Pakistan.

Please ignore delusional statements, after all, source I'm quoting this time is from pakistan this time.

Pakistan has long been accused of supporting the insurgents in Afghanistan.

Modi visited Afghanistan in June to inaugurate a $290 million hydroelectric dam project, and opened Afghanistan's new parliament complex in Kabul in December, built by India at an estimated cost of $90 million.

Inside the Comment Section:

I don't think I need to mention who's the lemon this time.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

India offers $1bn in fresh aid to Afghanistan

Afghan President, Asharf Ghani and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wave during a photo call prior to a meeting in New Delhi. -AFP











Please ignore delusional statements, after all, source I'm quoting this time is from pakistan this time.


Inside the Comment Section:
View attachment 10242
I don't think I need to mention who's the lemon this time.

Some Madarssa trained intellectuals inside the comment section:

 

[sorcerer]

India offers $1bn in fresh aid to Afghanistan

In a joint statement, India announced the $1 billion offer, but there was no mention of providing weapons to help Afghanistan fight militants, which it has previously asked for.

In a major shift, India is seriously considering making the transition from being just a development assistance provider to a security provider as well to Afghanistan, as the two countries lashed out at state-sponsored terror and safe havens for terrorists in a joint statement that did not name Pakistan but left no one in doubt that Islamabad was the target.

India has also decided to allocate $1 billion in development assistance to Afghanistan. Sources said that during talks between visiting Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday in New Delhi, India agreed to consider the supply of some of the military gear and platforms on the Afghan defence wishlist that Kabul was pushing for.
Source>>

paki media downplaying India -Afghan defense deals...

paki fear.. This is what pakis must be feeling like.

 

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Some even more pathetic, even from comment section:

Jealous of pakistan!
For what reason?

GDP of Afghanistan: 19.7 billions.
LOL

 

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Russia, India discuss joint NPP projects in third countries — deputy PM
India may also corporate along with China in Arctic project

 

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Why Bugti Asylum Could Help India Get a Refugee Law, Finally

Balochistan Republican Party Brahumdagh Bugti attending a meeting. (Photo: CNN-News18)

New Delhi: Baloch leader Brahumdagh Bugti on Tuesday approached India’s Permanent Mission in Geneva to request political asylum in India, a first step before he files the formal application with the Indian embassy in Berne, Switzerland. If okayed, this would be the highest profile individual to get political asylum from New Delhi after 1959, when it received Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama who was fleeing atrocities by China.

This then will have to come through an executive order, because India does not have any national law on refugees or people seeking asylum. Neither is it a signatory of the United Nations Refugee Convention even though it has around 200,000 documented refugees. Perhaps in recognition of this, three separate bills dealing with refugees were introduced in Parliament on the same day last year.

A raft of parliamentarians ranging from Congress’ Shashi Tharoor to BJP’s Varun Gandhi to BJD’s Rabindra Jena have tried their hand at bringing a refugee law, but not much has moved on that front. Tharoor introduced The Asylum Bill, 2015, as a private member’s bill while Varun Gandhi introduced The National Asylum Bill, 2015.

Rabindra Kumar Jena of the BJD introduced The Protection of Refugees and Asylum Seekers Bill, 2015. All three bills – incidentally, introduced on December 18, 2015 – are currently pending in Parliament.

The bills seek to create legislation that provides refugees with a clearly defined legal status and humanitarian protection. In the absence of a legal framework, the government’s refugee policy will be based on executive policies and judicial pronouncements. As strife around the globe intensifies, India should expect more refugees in the future, necessitating an institutionalised legal approach rather than deciding policy on a case by case basis.

Varun Gandhi, in a newspaper article, said that a properly defined asylum policy could distinguish between refugees fleeing persecution and migrants escaping penury.

“Such an act would establish a formal, fair and humanitarian process,” he wrote. Gandhi was unreachable for comment while doing this story.​

Gandhi’s legislation states it is a bill to provide for the citizenship rules of refugees and asylum seekers and that it has provisions for the definition, registration and the general obligations of refugees. It also has procedures to deal with a mass influx of refugees.

India has hosted different refugee populations at different times. Tibetans (1959), Bangladeshis (1971), Chakmas (1963), Afghans (1980) and Sri Lankan Tamils (1983) have fled to India following strife in their homelands. Apart from this, India also hosts Iraqis, Syrians, Myanmarese, Somalis and other refugees.

Not having legally-backed rights and papers in India makes the life of refugees difficult. Renting accommodation, getting children admitted to schools, finding employment or even buying a SIM card - all need proper documentation.

A refugee is someone who has fled his or her country because of a fear of persecution on grounds of race, religion, sex or ethnicity. Currently, refugees are treated on par with any other foreigners in India, as per the Foreigners Act, according to Vasudha Reddy, a legal protection officer with the Ara Trust, which is a centre for refugee law.

The Ara Trust helped Tharoor draft his bill, which seeks to incorporate the current policy on refugees, Constitutional principles and India’s international obligations. Tharoor was travelling, and could not be reached for this story.

The Government of India currently relies on the Foreigners Act, 1946 and The Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939 to govern the entry, stay and exit of refugees. “These laws treat refugees on par with other foreigners, not taking into account that the former need a special status based on humanitarian grounds,” Reddy said. India’s treatment of refugees has generally been considered humane, she added.

Probably the biggest refugee influx into India was in 1947 when around seven million Hindus and Sikhs arrived from parts of undivided India that went to Pakistan, and were rehabilitated by the government. The BJP’s 2014 election manifesto says that “India shall remain a natural home for persecuted Hindus and they shall be welcome to seek refuge here.”

There have been reports that the Home Ministry was amending the citizenship law that will exempt refugees from minority communities in Pakistan and Bangladesh from being tagged as illegal immigrants.

• Baloch leader Brahumdagh Bugti
• Balochistan
• India Refugee Laws
• Narendra Modi

 

[busesaway]

It's interesting that this change has only come about due to western pressure stemming from a crisis involving mainly Muslim countries. I wonder if it's something to do with Middle Eastern money and the large Muslim voter base in Europe.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

India to invest $2 billion in Sri Lanka over 3-4 years

Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
India will invest $2 billion in Sri Lanka in the next three-four years, Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Tuesday.

India will invest $2 billion in Sri Lanka in the next three-four years, Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Tuesday.

Ms. Sitharaman, who was here for talks on the Economic and Technological Cooperation Agreement (ETCA), called on Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and later met senior Ministers to discuss the terms of the agreement.

“Of course, there are issues that will have to be sorted out in good detail,” she said, adding that while opportunities exist, it was important to recognise that the negotiations had to be done in detail.

Unsuccessful CECA

The ETCA initiative follows unfruitful negotiations, spanning nearly a decade, on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the neighbours. India and Sri Lanka already have a Free Trade Agreement since 1998.

Both New Delhi and Colombo are keen on signing the ETCA, though there is considerable opposition to it within Sri Lanka, coming both from a section of medical and IT professionals, and from trade unions. Sri Lankan businessmen too have raised concerns over the trade agreement, Ms. Sitharaman said, adding India was “willing to sit and talk to them”. Asked about negotiations over non-tariff barriers, she said India viewed them along with standards, sanitary and phytosanitary measures.

‘One whole market’

On taxation, Ms. Sitharaman said the passing of the Goods and Services Tax Bill made India one whole market. Sri Lanka’s Minister of Development Strategies and International Trade Malik Samarawickrama said the two countries will complete negotiations “as soon as possible”, amid speculation that the pact might be inked by December this year.

The second round of negotiations on the ETCA is scheduled to take place in New Delhi on September 29 and 30.

 

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Nigeria seals $15 billion oil, gas deal with India

In the deal too is consideration for Indian public sector companies collaborating in the refining sector as well as exploration and production activities on a government-to-government basis by Indian public sector companies. Other terms include long-term contracts for the supply of crude to Indian companies from Nigeria and also possibilities of executing infrastructural projects by Indian companies in Nigeria.

In 2015-16, India imported nearly 23.7 MMT of crude (nearly 12% of India overall imports) and over 2 MMTPA of LNG from Nigeria.Following this negotiation, the two countries have agreed to work on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to facilitate investments by India in the Nigerian oil and gas sector and specifically in areas such as term contract, participation of Indian companies in the refining sector, oil and gas marketing, upstream ventures, the development of gas infrastructure and in the training of oil and gas personnel in Nigeria.

http://defenceforumindia.com/forum/...e-and-energy-sector.5157/page-27#post-1219815

 

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India’s Met model for world: Bhutan, 7 others to replicate tech-based advice
The WMO had called for share information and technology to help under-developed countries to come up with climate-resilient agricultural practices and to develop a strong climate information service system.
WRITTEN BY PARTHA SARATHI BISWAS | PUNE |Updated: October 30, 2016 9:32 AM

OVER THE last few years, the AgriMet Department of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has devised an elaborate system to help more than 40 lakh farmers in the country with timely weather-based crop advisories to plan the agricultural cycle. Now this system, which sees extensive usage of information and communication technology, is all set to be replicated in Bhutan and seven other developing countries across the world.

Dr Nabansu Chattopadhyay, deputy director general (DDG) AgriMet of IMD, said this initiative would see IMD scientists sharing satellite data with Bhutan and other countries, and providing seasonal forecasting for these countries.

This move comes as part of a global initiative by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) to help the agricultural sector to deal with the growing threat of climate change in developing nations. The WMO’s Global Framework of Climate Services (GFSC) calls for developed and developing countries to share information and technology to help under-developed countries to come up with climate-resilient agricultural practices and to develop a strong climate information service system.

Farming communities in the developing nations, Chattopadhyay said, were worst hit by the effects of climate change as extreme weather events like flash floods, droughts wreck havoc on them. In case of Bhutan, studies show that extreme weather events like heavy rains, glacial lake outbursts have become increasingly common and threaten to destroy the agricultural cycle for a country where 69 per cent of the population depends upon it. Other than Bhutan, countries chosen for this project include Tanzania, Papua New Guinea, Moldova, Dominica, Peru, Colombia and Burkina Faso.

Chattopadhyay said earlier this month in a meeting in Geneva, it was decided that while developed countries like Canada and Norway will help with grants for setting up the weather station, India will provide training and necessary skill-sets to come up with advanced forecasting systems. In particular India’s model for outreach to the farmer’s community through usage of information and communication technology will act as a role model for many of the other countries to follow.

The weather-based crop advisories issued on a regular basis by IMD reaches to around 40 lakh farmers in the country through text messages or through voice messages. Farmers need to register free of cost on the national farmer’s portal with their mobile phone and pertinent messages are streamed through them. Research has shown that farmers have reported significant rise in their income by timely availability of such weather based agricultural inputs.

In case of Bhutan, Chattopadhyay said the IMD will help in developing proper long range forecast models. “Satellite imagery can be exchanged between both the countries and Bhutanese scientists would be trained to develop their own model. In the initial phase, IMD will be forecasting for the country as well,” he said.

The Geneva meeting, he said, also talked about developing a low-cost weather forecasting tool kit for these countries. Installation of economical rain gauges, mechanism to understand parameters like soil moisture will be undertaken in the process. The WMO has called for a meeting early in December to discuss the formalities of this tool kit, he said.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

Press Information Bureau Government of India Ministry of Defence​

02-November-2016 16:14 IST​

First Training Squadron Visits Yangon (Myanmar)​

Indian Naval Ships Tir and Sujata, alongwith Indian Coast Guard Ship Varuna, comprising the 1st Training Squadron are visiting Yangon, Myanmar from 02 – 06 Nov 16 as part of their Overseas Deployment during Autumn Term 16. The Senior Officer of the 1st Training Squadron, Captain DJ Revar, is embarked on board INS Tir. The Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba, PVSM, AVSM, ADC is also on an official visit to Myanmar during the visit of the training squadron.

India and Myanmar have a close, long-standing relationship covering a wide spectrum of activities and interactions, which has strengthened over the years. Visits by ships to each other’s countries as well as Co-ordinated Patrols (CORPATs) provide opportunities for extensive operational and training engagements and contributes to the maintenance of good order at sea. The present deployment of the Training Squadron to Yangon would further cement the close relations between the two nations and the two navies.

The First Training Squadron forms part of Southern Naval Command (SNC) and comprises Indian Naval Ships Tir, Shardul, Sujata, ICGS Varuna and two Sail Training Ships Sudarshini and Tarangini, all of which have been built in India. The primary aim of the Squadron is to impart training to Naval and Coast Guard trainees, with a 24 weeks ab-initio sea training being imparted. The trainees are imparted training in Seamanship, Navigation, Ship Handling, Boat Work, Technical aspects, etc whilst being exposed to the rigours of life at sea, so as to earn their ‘sea legs’. Southern Naval Command is the Training Command of the Indian Navy, which provides both basic and advanced training to officers and sailors of the Indian Navy. The Indian Navy has also been providing training to personnel from Friendly Foreign Countries for more than four decades, wherein more than 13,000 personnel from over 40 countries have been trained. The Indian Navy’s focused approach for providing high quality training by constantly adapting to evolving tactics and technologies, has gained it a reputation of being one of the finest training destinations.

 

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MONUSCO: Ukrainian servicemen take part in multinational medical conference
Yesterday at 14:59 | ID: 25055 | Views: 117

In Goma, DRC, Indian military hospital hosted a medical conference where the medical personnel of national contingents, NGO and local medics shared experience on diagnostics and treatment of dangerous illnesses in African continent.

“There were a lot of speakers from India. We know their medicine is well developed. Indian medics successfully use non-traditional approaches in treatment and diagnostics,” Col. Euvhen Skyba, 18thDetached Helicopter Unit, said.

According to him, the Ukrainian military doctors constantly contact with colleagues from other national contingents participating in the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The participants of two-day conference got certificates at the end of the event.

Courtesy: Government of Ukraine

I never knew that there was an Indian Hospital in Goma.