NGO lauded for work in violence prevention, education, financial inclusion and interfaith dialogue
The Reflections on Association with COVA@30 event saw video messages from collaborators across India highlighted COVA's wide-ranging engagement on over 30 issues ,from grassroot works in slums of Hyderabad to policy advocacy with multilateral institutions. A documentary produced by Maulana Azad National Urdu University's Mass Communication Department traced the organisation's evolution and reach in the area of social activism.
A book, Chronicle of COVA@30: Service Through Social Transformations, featuring reflections from 150 individuals, that include partners, associates, and volunteers, was also released.
Speakers deeply appreciated COVA's notable work in violence prevention, education, financial inclusion and interfaith dialogue. The organisation's Compassionate Citizenship Programme, now part of Telangana's school curriculum, was praised as a model for moral and civic education.
According to a media release, its research on financial inclusion, commissioned ahead of the 2013 G20 Summit in Russia, resulted in nine of its twelve recommendations being adopted by India's Finance Ministry, five of which were integrated into the eMUDRA Scheme.
Participants recalled how COVA's community initiatives had helped prevent communal violence in Hyderabad since 2012, describing the group's work as vital to peacebuilding and social harmony.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Print
3 days ago
- The Print
Sanskrit must reach every household in India, become daily communication language: Bhagwat
Speaking at the inauguration of a building at Kavi Kulguru Kalidas Sanskrit University in Nagpur, Bhagwat noted there is a difference between understanding Sanskrit and being able to converse in the language. He pitched for preservation and propagation of Sanskrit and called it a language which 'develops our emotions (bhav)' and added everyone should know the ancient tongue. Nagpur, Aug 1 (PTI) Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Friday said Sanskrit is the mother of all Indian languages and it should become a medium of communication and reach every household in the country. The Sanskrit university will receive government patronage, but people's support is also necessary, he said. Bhagwat said Sanskrit is the mother of all languages of India and for it to grow further, it must be used by people in their daily life. 'We need to learn to speak this language in our daily communication. It should become the language of daily communication. I have learnt the language, but am not able to speak it fluently. Sanskrit needs to reach every household, and communication in the language is needed,' the RSS chief stressed. Bhagwat affirmed there is unanimity over the need to become 'atmanirbhar' (self-reliant) and display 'swabal' (self strength) for which 'we need to develop our intellect and knowledge'. He emphasised that the strength of Bharat is its 'swatwa' – that is the feeling of ownership by self-reliance. 'Swatwa is not materialistic, but individuality and it is conveyed through language,' Bhagwat insisted. He added that knowing Sanskrit is like understanding the country. Bhagwat inaugurated the Abhinav Bharti International Academic building at the university. The RSS chief noted that while Western societies talk about 'global market', 'we speak about global family', characterised by the concept of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family'). He said Westerners developed the idea of a 'global market' which has 'failed' now. Bhagwat spoke about India hosting the G20 Summit in 2023 during its presidency of the grouping and pointed out that its theme was 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam'. In his speech, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis highlighted the rich heritage of Sanskrit and ensured all support from his government for development of the language. PTI MR CLS VT ARU RSY This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Delhi: Flyover repaired ahead of G20 develops cracks
In the heart of the Capital, just metres away from some of its most powerful institutions, the Ranjit Singh Flyover on Barakhamba Road —an arterial stretch connecting New Delhi and Old Delhi— has fallen into a state of alarming disrepair. Its pock-marked surface, missing concrete panels, broken noise barriers and open urination spots paint a grim picture, especially given its proximity to luxury hotels, corporate offices and political party headquarters. Damage on Ranjit Singh Flyover on Thursday. (Sanchit Khanna/ HT Photo) The deterioration comes just three years after the flyover was repaired and beautified ahead of the G20 Summit. The sharp contrast between its current condition and the city's ongoing month-long sanitation drive has raised concerns about the sustainability of infrastructure maintenance and civic hygiene in one of Delhi's most prominent areas. The 900-metre flyover begins at Barakhamba Road and connects to areas such as Ramlila Maidan, Zakir Hussain College, Delhi Gate and Turkman Gate. Once a key corridor for smooth cross-city travel, it has now become a bumpy, jarring ride, especially in the monsoon, as water seeps into cracks and deepens surface damage. During a spot check on Thursday, HT found that most of the progress made in 2022-23 has been lost. The road surface is fractured, the noise barriers have gaping holes, and many of the concrete covers on the central verge are either broken or missing. The stretch over the railway tracks, opposite the BJP headquarters—once decked out to mark 75 years of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav—has now turned into an open urinal. Commuters and residents say the neglect is not just an eyesore, but a safety hazard. 'The condition of the flyover is not good. There are multiple potholes on the northern end. I have seen people fall and get injured,' said Mohammed Zia, 31, who works at a clinic nearby. 'The road surface is uneven, and certain sections are higher or lower than the rest.' Jai Prakash Malhotra, 68, who uses the flyover daily to reach his medical shop, echoed the concern. 'It's full of bumps. Repairs have been done several times, but nothing has improved. The top surface is still uneven, and the potholes keep coming back.' Shashi Kant, 48, a shop owner near the flyover, said that while some parts have been patched up in the past, long stretches remain riddled with potholes—especially near the entry points. 'Repairs should be carried out again, but properly this time,' he said. Built in 1982 during the Asian Games, the flyover has undergone patchy repairs over the years. In 2018, ahead of the inauguration of the BJP headquarters on Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Marg, civic agencies repainted the railings and installed view-cutters. In 2022, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) undertook a major revamp, replacing expansion joints, bearings, crash barriers and railings. The road surface was also re-laid to ensure a smoother commute. A further round of beautification was carried out in May 2023, when Union home minister Amit Shah virtually inaugurated installations including LED lighting and national flags set up at a cost of ₹2 crore. The estimated cost of the 2022-23 repair work was around ₹4 crore. Before that, the last substantial overhaul was in 2000. The long-standing demand for thorough renovation, especially from regular commuters, is back on the table—with many questioning how long a ₹6 crore facelift can last if upkeep is this short-lived. A senior NDMC official acknowledged the issue and said that the repair work will be carried out in the coming days. On open urination, the official said that it is a problem across Delhi. 'We will try to ensure cleanliness and raise awareness in the area,' the official added.
First Post
5 days ago
- First Post
South Africa: Trump To Skip Ramaphosa's G20 Summit Amid Tariff Tensions? Firstpost Africa
South Africa: Trump To Skip Ramaphosa's G20 Summit Amid Tariff Tensions? | Firstpost Africa | N18G As the August 1 deadline looms, South Africa faces a formidable challenge, with US President Donald Trump's proposed 30% tariff threatening to devastate its economy. The US, South Africa's second-largest trading partner, is poised to impose tariffs that could lead to an estimated 100,000 job losses, with the agriculture and automotive sectors bearing the brunt. Trump's hardened stance stems from a list of grievances, including accusations of persecution and killings of white citizens, concerns over land expropriation laws aimed at redressing apartheid-era inequalities, and criticism of South Africa's Black Economic Empowerment policies. Adding to the diplomatic chill is South Africa's genocide case against Israel, a close US ally. With President Trump signalling he may even skip the G20 Summit in South Africa, the African nation scrambles for a last-minute trade deal, its economic future hanging precariously in the balance. See More
