Latest news with #Jain
The Print
4 hours ago
- Politics
- The Print
Civil defence exercise ‘Operation Shield' conducted in Punjab and Haryana
Scenes of volunteers enacting as injured being taken on stretchers to ambulances and fire being put out played out during the mock drills. The emergency situations were simulated in all districts of the two neighbouring states during the exercise, which began on Saturday evening. Chandigarh, May 31 (PTI) The authorities in Punjab and Haryana on Saturday conducted a major statewide civil defence exercise named 'Operation Shield' to enhance emergency preparedness and response capabilities. The drills were aimed at evaluating and enhancing the efficacy of emergency response mechanisms in real-time situations. The mock drills saw coordinated participation from multiple agencies, including the fire and emergency services, police, health department and disaster management authorities. The trained volunteers from the Civil Defence, National Service Scheme (NSS) and National Cadet Corps (NCC) also participated in the exercise. This drill was earlier scheduled for May 29, but it was postponed as per instructions of the Union Home Ministry. The comprehensive drill was organised under the guidance of the Union Home Ministry to simulate critical incidents such as air raids, drone attacks and other wartime scenarios in the light of current national security concerns. The exercise was conducted across Punjab and Haryana. In Punjab's Hoshiarpur, the drill was based on a hypothetical scenario in which a swarm of enemy drones attacked a military station, prompting the station commander to seek immediate assistance from the civil administration. In response, a coordinated effort was simulated to rescue and evacuate 20 affected individuals to a safe location. Speaking at the conclusion of the drill, Deputy Commissioner Ashika Jain said that the exercise was part of the government's proactive preparedness strategy to ensure efficient coordination and operational readiness of the administration during any crisis. She clarified that the drill was a routine preparedness measure and there was no cause for panic among residents. 'The primary objective of the mock drill is to mentally prepare the public for emergency situations and ensure seamless inter-departmental coordination,' said Jain, urging the youth to follow official guidelines and actively support awareness campaigns. The drill witnessed active participation from the Civil Defence, the fire department, medical teams, 12 Punjab NCC, police personnel and Home Guards. A detailed review of inter-agency coordination and swift response capabilities was also carried out during the exercise. Dasuya Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Kanwaljit Singh coordinated the drill in collaboration with the Punjab Police, Home Guards, Civil Defence, Civil Surgeon's office and the fire department, ensuring its successful execution. The event also drew attention from the local residents, many of whom appreciated the administration's initiative and emphasized the importance of such preparedness measures. The officials assured that similar drills would be held in future to further strengthen the district's emergency response mechanisms. An air raid warning siren was sounded in Punjab's Fazilka, a border district, at 6 pm following which the drill began. Jalalabad SDM Kanwarjit Singh said the main purpose of such drill was to keep oneself prepared in the event of any emergency situation. He emphasized the participation of people in such an exercise, stressing that any emergency situation can be dealt with in a better manner with public participation. PTI CHS AS AS This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
The Hindu
4 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Civil defence exercise 'Operation Shield' conducted in Punjab and Haryana
The authorities in Punjab and Haryana on Saturday conducted a major Statewide civil defence exercise named "Operation Shield" to enhance emergency preparedness and response capabilities. The emergency situations were simulated in all districts of the two neighbouring States during the exercise, which began on Saturday evening. Scenes of volunteers enacting as injured being taken on stretchers to ambulances and fire being put out played out during the mock drills. The drills were aimed at evaluating and enhancing the efficacy of emergency response mechanisms in real-time situations. The mock drills saw coordinated participation from multiple agencies, including the fire and emergency services, police, health department and disaster management authorities. The trained volunteers from the Civil Defence, National Service Scheme (NSS) and National Cadet Corps (NCC) also participated in the exercise. This drill was earlier scheduled for May 29, but it was postponed as per instructions of the Union Home Ministry. The comprehensive drill was organised under the guidance of the Union Home Ministry to simulate critical incidents such as air raids, drone attacks and other wartime scenarios in the light of current national security concerns. The exercise was conducted across Punjab and Haryana. In Punjab's Hoshiarpur, the drill was based on a hypothetical scenario in which a swarm of enemy drones attacked a military station, prompting the station commander to seek immediate assistance from the civil administration. In response, a coordinated effort was simulated to rescue and evacuate 20 affected individuals to a safe location. Speaking at the conclusion of the drill, Deputy Commissioner Ashika Jain said that the exercise was part of the government's proactive preparedness strategy to ensure efficient coordination and operational readiness of the administration during any crisis. She clarified that the drill was a routine preparedness measure and there was no cause for panic among residents. "The primary objective of the mock drill is to mentally prepare the public for emergency situations and ensure seamless inter-departmental coordination," said Jain, urging the youth to follow official guidelines and actively support awareness campaigns. The drill witnessed active participation from the Civil Defence, the fire department, medical teams, 12 Punjab NCC, police personnel and Home Guards. A detailed review of inter-agency coordination and swift response capabilities was also carried out during the exercise. Dasuya Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Kanwaljit Singh coordinated the drill in collaboration with the Punjab Police, Home Guards, Civil Defence, Civil Surgeon's office and the fire department, ensuring its successful execution. The event also drew attention from the local residents, many of whom appreciated the administration's initiative and emphasized the importance of such preparedness measures. The officials assured that similar drills would be held in future to further strengthen the district's emergency response mechanisms. An air raid warning siren was sounded in Punjab's Fazilka, a border district, at 6 pm following which the drill began. Jalalabad SDM Kanwarjit Singh said the main purpose of such drill was to keep oneself prepared in the event of any emergency situation. He emphasized the participation of people in such an exercise, stressing that any emergency situation can be dealt with in a better manner with public participation.
NDTV
4 hours ago
- Politics
- NDTV
"Operation Shield": Civil Defence Exercise Conducted In Punjab, Haryana
Chandigarh: The authorities in Punjab and Haryana on Saturday conducted a major statewide civil defence exercise named "Operation Shield" to enhance emergency preparedness and response capabilities. The emergency situations were simulated in all districts of the two neighbouring states during the exercise, which began on Saturday evening. Scenes of volunteers enacting as injured being taken on stretchers to ambulances and fire being put out played out during the mock drills. The drills were aimed at evaluating and enhancing the efficacy of emergency response mechanisms in real-time situations. The mock drills saw coordinated participation from multiple agencies, including the fire and emergency services, police, health department and disaster management authorities. The trained volunteers from the Civil Defence, National Service Scheme (NSS) and National Cadet Corps (NCC) also participated in the exercise. This drill was earlier scheduled for May 29, but it was postponed as per instructions of the Union Home Ministry. The comprehensive drill was organised under the guidance of the Union Home Ministry to simulate critical incidents such as air raids, drone attacks and other wartime scenarios in the light of current national security concerns. The exercise was conducted across Punjab and Haryana. In Punjab's Hoshiarpur, the drill was based on a hypothetical scenario in which a swarm of enemy drones attacked a military station, prompting the station commander to seek immediate assistance from the civil administration. In response, a coordinated effort was simulated to rescue and evacuate 20 affected individuals to a safe location. Speaking at the conclusion of the drill, Deputy Commissioner Ashika Jain said that the exercise was part of the government's proactive preparedness strategy to ensure efficient coordination and operational readiness of the administration during any crisis. She clarified that the drill was a routine preparedness measure and there was no cause for panic among residents. "The primary objective of the mock drill is to mentally prepare the public for emergency situations and ensure seamless inter-departmental coordination," said Jain, urging the youth to follow official guidelines and actively support awareness campaigns. The drill witnessed active participation from the Civil Defence, the fire department, medical teams, 12 Punjab NCC, police personnel and Home Guards. A detailed review of inter-agency coordination and swift response capabilities was also carried out during the exercise. Dasuya Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Kanwaljit Singh coordinated the drill in collaboration with the Punjab Police, Home Guards, Civil Defence, Civil Surgeon's office and the fire department, ensuring its successful execution. The event also drew attention from the local residents, many of whom appreciated the administration's initiative and emphasized the importance of such preparedness measures. The officials assured that similar drills would be held in future to further strengthen the district's emergency response mechanisms. An air raid warning siren was sounded in Punjab's Fazilka, a border district, at 6 pm following which the drill began. Jalalabad SDM Kanwarjit Singh said the main purpose of such drill was to keep oneself prepared in the event of any emergency situation. He emphasized the participation of people in such an exercise, stressing that any emergency situation can be dealt with in a better manner with public participation.
The Hindu
7 hours ago
- General
- The Hindu
Nine rock-cut caves for Jain ascetics in Telangana's Anantagiri damaged; six remaining crying for attention
A group of 15 rock-cut Jain caves in Anantagiri — a hill station in Vikarabad district — dating back to the 9th century CE, are in dire need of protection. Archaeologist and CEO of Pleach India Foundation, E. Sivanagireddy, who visited the caves on Saturday, said that the caves were carved for Jain ascetics to spend the rainy season and observe Sallekhana vrata (fasting unto death). The 15 caves, which are square and rectangular, vary in size between 2.0 to 6.0 meters in length, 2.0 to 3.0 meters in width, and 2.5 meters in depth, with openings to the east. Out of the 15 rock-cut caves, six are intact, while the rest were damaged during the widening of the pathway leading to the origin point of the River Musi. The rock-cut beds on the floor and niches in the walls to keep lamps, along with a mutilated Jain statue seated in artha paryankasana, reflect Jain origins. Mr. Sivanagireddy urged the authorities of the Ananta Padmanabha Swamy temple and Vikarabad Municipality to remove the whitewash coated on the walls of the caves and make them presentable to visitors. He also requested that pathways, a fence, and signages with historical and religious significance of the caves be provided to save them for posterity and benefit future generations. The temple committee chairman Padmanabham assured that he would extend necessary support in this regard.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Gold is part of India's social fabric. As prices soar, customers watch, wait but, ultimately, still buy
Sidheshwar Shirsath, who lives in the suburbs of India's financial capital, Mumbai, first started buying gold when he got married nine years ago. Shirsath, 35, works as a driver and earns about 55,000 rupees ($889 Cdn) a month. He decided that gold might be a good way to build a nest egg for his family's future. Whenever he had some cash to spend, he purchased gold jewelry, including rings and bangles, and he now has about 130 grams of gold, worth more than one million rupees ($16,000 Cdn). "Sometime after I first bought gold, the rates started increasing, so my interest in investing in it also grew," Shirsath said. In recent months — to his delight — the price has skyrocketed. Gold globally was trading at $3,298 US an ounce on Friday morning, up more than 25 per cent since the start of the year, and up 42 per cent compared with a year ago. Gold's value globally has surged amid global economic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions, including concerns about the impact of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff policy. The precious metal is often seen as a "safe haven" asset that investors flock to during periods of economic turbulence. In India, the price has risen even more sharply and is up 30 per cent since the beginning of the year — with the additional increase driven by the rupee's depreciation against the American dollar. But for many Indians, like Shirsath, gold is more than an investment. "Gold is very close to Indian women," he said, his wife, Manisha, sitting next to him in their modest home, adorned with a heavy gold choker and gleaming bangles. "They need gold — especially for festivals and weddings." In India, gold is primarily purchased it in the form of jewelry because it can be a way of showing off one's wealth and status. The precious metal also holds enormous religious and cultural significance. It is part of the dowry in weddings, for example, and it is considered to be auspicious to buy gold during certain Hindu festivals. "India is a very unique market for gold ," said Sachin Jain, regional CEO, India, for the World Gold Council, a global industry association. "Gold is a part of the social fabric, and you don't need to be in any particular economic strata to consume gold. "We all in India have a family doctor, so to say, and we have a family jeweller." In rural India, where most of the country's 1.4 billion people still live — and with many not having easy access to bank accounts — gold is a popular way of storing savings, Jain said. All of this means that India is one of the world's largest consumers of gold, with the country's demand for the precious metal hitting about 800 tonnes a year. The steep price, however, is having an impact on the quantity of the metal that people are buying. "With jewelry consumption, whenever the price of gold goes up, the consumer waits and watches," Jain said. "The moment it gets a bit settled, we see consumers come back." The World Gold Council's data shows that demand for gold in India in the first three months of this year stood at 118.1 tonnes, down by 15 per cent compared with the first quarter of last year. But because the price is up, the value of the country's gold demand — which is the quantity of gold that is bought or invested — in the first quarter of this year actually rose by 22 per cent, to reach 940 billion rupees ($15.1 billion Cdn). "People are buying lower quantities," said Colin Shah, managing director of Kama Jewelry, a Mumbai-based manufacturer. "They all have budgets. If someone has $2,000 to spend, they'll spend that and buy a lower volume." But, he said, that gold has by no means lost its shine, despite its high price. "In India, there is a culture of gold, and nobody is going to stop buying gold because of pricing," Shah said. "Actually, they'll have more confidence in the category due to the return they are making on their money." With Indians' appetite to own gold showing no signs of easing, the government in recent years has taken a series of steps to try to ensure that gold is brought into the formal economy. These include lowering the import duty on gold last year to six per cent from 15 per cent, partly as a way of making it less attractive for people to smuggle gold into the country to avoid paying high taxes. The government also offers sovereign gold bonds as an alternative to physical gold. The World Gold Council's Jain said that Indians are increasingly investing in gold digitally, for example, through exchange-traded funds (ETFs) — and the price surge has only encouraged people to look at these options. "The young generation is getting more and more savvy, and with the ease of technology, we believe that investment into gold and gold assets is going to get a little more digital," he said. Gold investment demand, including ETFs, rose by seven per cent in India to 46.7 tonnes in the first quarter, according to the World Gold Council. JPMorgan forecasts that the price of gold could hit $4,000 US an ounce next year. Shirsath said that he and his family have more than enough jewelry now, but he still wants to keep buying gold. "My next plan is to buy gold coins or go for bonds." WATCH | Big box stores offer gold to customers as its popularity heats up: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
