China Concrete Company Ltd today was today fined $212,000 after it carried out works at its two concrete batching plants in Yau Tong without a specified process licence and failed to comply with an air pollution abatement notice.
The two plants, located at 20 and 22 Tung Yuen Street, were found to have contravened the Air Pollution Control Ordinance. The company pleaded guilty to 28 summonses at Kwun Tong Magistrates’ Court and was fined a total of $212,000.
The Environmental Protection Department said it had made every effort to combat the plants’ illegal operations. To date, it has issued 39 summonses for criminal prosecution against the company.
Thirty of those charges have now resulted in conviction, while the remaining nine cases of non-compliance are still in progress.
Under new amendments to the Air Pollution Control Ordinance due to take effect on April 11, the Director of Environmental Protection will be empowered to issue closure notices to premises if the director has reasonable cause to believe that unlicensed SP operations are taking place.
Stressing that the legal amendments have proved decisive in addressing the Tung Yuen Street plants’ illegal operations, the department said China Concrete Company Ltd had given notice that it would cease all concrete batching and related operations early this month.
The department said that if the two plants are found to have continued conducting unlicensed operations after the legal amendments take effect, it will take stringent action in accordance with the law.
The Lands Department issued six pre-sale consents for residential and non-residential developments in the first quarter of this year.
Among these, five were issued for residential developments, involving a total of 2,749 residential units.
Three of the projects are expected to be completed next year. Two of these are phases of developments – specifically a phase in Chai Wan comprising 592 units, and another in Tin Shui Wai involving 525 units. The third project, in Sha Tin, covers 240 units.
A development in Yau Tong involving 748 units, and another in Fanling comprising 644 units, are expected to be completed in 2027.
The remaining pre-sale consent is in relation to a non-residential development.
At the end of last month, 21 applications for pre-sale consent for residential developments, comprising a total of 7,090 residential units, were being processed.
In addition, the department was handling 11 applications for consent to assign, involving 3,436 residential units and four non-residential units.
Three applications for pre-sale consent for non-residential developments were also being processed.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Chinese Culture Festival 2025 to be held June to September to unveil millennia-old Chinese culture through fusion of art and literature The CCF is now in its second edition. The opening programme, “Dongpo: Life in Poems” by the China Oriental Performing Arts Group, is directed by internationally acclaimed choreographer and visual artist Shen Wei. The production is an innovative work that integrates traditional Chinese poetic culture with contemporary artistic language and arts appreciation concepts. It blends modern dance with various traditional Chinese culture elements, such as poetry writing, traditional Chinese painting, calligraphy, seal engraving and guqin, which delicately deconstructs the thoughts and emotions in the poetic works by Su Dongpo, a literary master in the Song dynasty, thereby initiating an artistic dialogue spanning thousands of years. The programme is sponsored by the Agricultural Bank of China Limited Hong Kong Branch.
As a core part of the CCF, this year’s Chinese Opera Festival (COF) features six quality programmes covering Peking opera, Yuediao opera, Qinqiang opera, Yue opera, Cantonese opera and Kunqu opera. The COF will start off with the China National Peking Opera Company’s new historical Peking opera, “Cession for Consolidation of the Song Regime”. Set during the late Five Dynasties and Ten-Kingdoms period, it tells the story of Qian Chu, the King of Wuyue, honouring the rightful rule of the Song reign by voluntarily submitting his territory. The production conveys the profound themes of valuing people, pursuing peace and stability, and strengthening the communal spirit of Chinese national identity. Furthermore, there will be fantastic shows from a number of renowned art groups and artists, including the Henan Provincial Yue Diao Art Protection and Inheritance Center, the Xi’an Performing Arts Group’s Youth Experimental Troupe of Qinqiang Opera, the Xiaobaihua Yue Opera Troupe of Shaoxing and the Zhejiang Jingkun Art Center (Kun Opera Troupe). The performances will feature winners of the China Theatre Plum Blossom Award such as renowned Peking opera artists Yu Kuizhi and Li Shengsu, Yuediao opera inheritor Shen Xiaomei, Qinqiang artists Dou Fengqin, Tan Jianxun, Qu Qiaozhe, Wang Xincang, Qi Aiyun and Zhang Tao, as well as acclaimed Yue opera performers Wu Fenghua, Wu Suying and Chen Fei.
The COF this year also features classic plays inspired by the “Romance of Three Kingdoms”, one of the four great classic novels of Chinese literature. With virtuoso Yuen Siu-fai as artistic director, the Cantonese opera plays “Zhou Yu Thrice Humiliated” and “The Battle at Changbanpo” bring together some of the finest local Cantonese opera talent across three generations to perform. The Peking opera classic “A Meeting of Heroes, Invoking the East Wind and The Huarong Pass”, the Yuediao epic historical drama “Jiang Wei Surrenders” and Qinqiang classic piece “Returning to Jingzhou” will also be staged, bringing opera fans back to the Three Kingdoms era of fierce rivalry. The COF will also present an array of free extension activities such as meet-the-artists sessions, masterclasses, talks, a backstage tour, a demonstration performance and an exhibition so that interested parties can gain a deeper understanding of Chinese opera culture.
More on literary and art, “the City under the Moon – Dance Drama ‘Azure After the Rain'” by the Shanghai Dance Theatre highlights the resilient spirit and sentiments of the famous Song dynasty poetess, Li Qingzhao, and her contributions to the inheritance of Chinese literary classics from a contemporary perspective. By blending music, dance and stage art, the dance drama creates the aesthetics of the Song dynasty and its life of the literati, and resonates with today’s audiences through traditional Chinese culture. The original Chinese dance drama, “A Dream of Red Mansions”, by the Jiangsu Centre for the Performing Arts is another production that upholds principles and innovation. Its plot centres around the love triangle between Jia Baoyu, Lin Daiyu and Xue Baochai, and restructures the storylines from the perspective of the 12 Beauties of Jinling, paying homage to fine traditional Chinese culture while rekindling the national classic with views from the young generation. The programme is jointly presented by the LCSD and the Bauhinia Culture Group. These two programmes are also programmes of the “Chinese Performing Arts Hong Kong Season” Series.
China was the first country in the world to grow and produce tea. In 2022, “traditional Chinese tea-making techniques and related customs” was inscribed onto the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This year’s CCF features a “Tea Culture” series, with the “Tan Dun WE-Festival”, curated by Hong Kong’s Ambassador for Cultural Promotion, internationally renowned composer and conductor, Tan Dun, as one of the pre-festival programmes. In addition to the Tan Dun | “Tea: A Mirror of Soul” by the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, there are also performances of dialogues between traditional and modern percussion, as well as ancient Dunhuang music and dances, which include “Xiangxi Tujia Women’s Daliuzi & Hong Kong Women’s Percussion Ensemble” (the world premiere of “TEA-liuzi”) and “Lost Tang Dynasty Music and Dance Manuscripts: ‘The Vanishing Mogao Caves'”. These performances enable music lovers to appreciate the charm of tea, while telling the good story of China’s intangible cultural heritage in the new era. The “Tea Culture” series also includes other stage performance, exhibitions, talks and demonstrations.
The City in Focus of this year’s CCF is Xi’an, a capital of 13 ancient dynasties with profound cultural heritage. It has preserved a large number of precious historical and cultural relics from the Qin, Han, Tang and other dynasties. The CCF brings to Hong Kong a representative opera genre of the region, Qinqiang, with the Xi’an Performing Arts Group’s Youth Experimental Troupe of Qinqiang Opera presenting the classic piece “Zhou Ren on the Way Home”, which conveys the spirit of loyalty and righteousness with its wide vocal range and resounding tones. Other programmes include “The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: The Great Unity – Civilisation of the Qin and Han Dynasties in Shaanxi Province” exhibition jointly organised by the Hong Kong Museum of History and the Shaanxi Cultural Heritage Promotion Center, showcasing invaluable archaeological relics; the Acrobatic Ballet “Swan Lake” by the Xi’an Acrobatic Troupe jointly presented by the LCSD and the Bauhinia Culture Group; and “Xi’an Guyue” music exhibitions by the Music Office of the LCSD, which all reveal Xi’an’s culture to the audience and foster cultural exchange.
This year’s CCF continues to collaborate with the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles Hong Kong Member Association to organise a number of stage performances, including the stage play in Cantonese “Tea-horse Road‧Ballad of the Fallen Dragon” under the “Tea Culture” series; “Ancient Styles‧Modern Chants Classical Literature x Contemporary Dance”; “Melodies of Chinese Poetry” concert; “Taisheng and Huayin Lao Qiang: Big Uncle, Second Uncle are All His Uncles” concert, and “Classics Revisited – Highlights of Peking Opera and Kunqu”. All these demonstrate the power of unity of the local cultural sector, as well as their solid competence and boundless creativity in promoting Chinese culture. The “Legacy and Vision: Conversations with Chinese Cultural Masters” lecture series also returns, featuring top experts from various culture and artistic fields to share their insights. Meanwhile, outstanding local works recognised by the China National Arts Fund will be staged in the CCF, such as the Cantonese Music Assembly’s “Cantonese Rhyme, Poetic Homeland – Sentiment of Chinese Music in the Greater Bay Area by Ricky Yeung Wai-kit & Sha Jingshan” recital, Hong Kong Gaudeamus Dunhuang Ensemble’s Museum Series: “The Sounds from Cultural Relics” and Miranda Chin Dance Company’s “Hé The Rite of Spring”.
The CCF promotes high-quality provincial and local stage productions. Among them is the “Ancient Chinese Puppetry with Timeless Charm” by the Quanzhou Marionette Show Inheritance and Protection Center from Fujian Province, in which performers move delicate puppets around by controlling strings in their skilful hands to perform classic short plays. In the “Concert by Shanghai Xuhui Chiangqiao Jiangnan Silk and Bamboo Ensemble”, the representative inheritors of Jiangnan silk and bamboo music from Shanghai, along with talented young Shanghainese musicians, will perform classical string and wind pieces. Other programmes include the opening programme of the International Arts Carnival 2025 – Kungfu Drama “Soul of Shaolin” by the Henan Provincial Shaolin Wushu Center; the “Innovative Music-making Journey to China: MO x e-Orch” concert by the Music Office; the “Silk Road Resonance” by the Hong Kong Music Lover Chinese Orchestra and Xinjiang Art Theater Traditional Orchestra Ensemble; the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra’s 49th Orchestral Season Opening Concert “Silken Notes of the Pipa”; the Hong Kong Dance Company’s 2025/26 Dance Season Opening Programme Grand Dance Poem “A Dance of Celestial Rhythms”, and more.
Apart from stage performances, the CCF will also present a number of film programmes. “Tracing Qin and Han Through Cinema” features eight representative local works set in the Qin and Han dynasties, including “The Great Conqueror’s Concubine” (1994) (4K Digitised Version), which was directed by Stephen Shin, as the opening film, while “Cantonese Opera Films: The Legend of Guan Gong” features five selected Cantonese opera films, including the rarely screened colour film “General Kwan Escorts His Sisters-in-Law on a Thousand Mile Journey” (1957). The “Chinese Opera Film Shows” of the COF will present a series of “Three Kingdoms” themed Chinese opera films from the 1950s to 1980s. The Hong Kong premiere of director Yonfan’s latest documentary, “Crossing Years” (2024) will be held, capturing renowned Chinese artist Huang Yongyu’s conversation with Yon about his life before Chinese New Year’s Eve in 2012.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Concrete batching plants in Yau Tong convicted for violating Air Pollution Control Ordinance A spokesperson for the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) said that the department has been making unremitting efforts to follow up on the illegal operations of the two CBPs. To date, the EPD has issued a total of 39 summonses for criminal prosecution against the company, with 30 charges successfully convicted so far, while the remaining nine cases of non-compliance are still in process.
Moreover, new amendments to the APCO, taking effect on April 11, empower the Director of Environmental Protection to issue a closure notice to premises if he or she has reasonable cause to believe that unlicensed SP operations are taking place. The amended APCO has proven decisive in addressing the illegal operations by the two CBPs. The EPD has received a notification from the China Concrete Company Limited earlier indicating that they will cease all operations of the concrete batching process and related operations by early April. The EPD has been closely monitoring the situation, and its latest observations revealed that the two CBPs will cease operation.
The spokesperson added, “The EPD will continue to closely monitor the situation. Should the two CBPs be found to continue the unlicensed operations after the amended APCO takes effect, the department will take stringent action in accordance with the law.” Issued at HKT 18:30
The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi greeted everyone on occasion of Ram Navami today.
In separate posts on X, he said:
“Ram Navami greetings to everyone! May the blessings of Prabhu Shri Ram always remain upon us and guide us in all our endeavours. Looking forward to being in Rameswaram later today!”
Ram Navami greetings to everyone! May the blessings of Prabhu Shri Ram always remain upon us and guide us in all our endeavours. Looking forward to being in Rameswaram later today!
Palna Scheme under Mission Shakti A Journey of Women Empowerment and Child Care
Posted On: 07 APR 2025 4:13PM by PIB Delhi
Introduction
Government’s sustained initiatives on education, skilling and employment of women have resulted in increased opportunities for their employment, and more and more women are now in gainful employment, working within or outside their homes. Past few decades have shown a rapid increase in nuclear families. Thus, the children of such working women, who were earlier getting support from joint families while they were at work, are now in need of day care services which have to provide quality care and protection for the children. Lack of proper day-care services is, often, a deterrent for women to go out and work. To address these difficulties faced by the working mothers in giving due child care and protection to their children, day-care crèche facilities are being provided through Palna Scheme. Crèche services formalise the child care responsibilities hitherto considered as part of domestic work. Formalization of care work supports the “decent work campaign” to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 8 – Decent work and economic growth. This will also enable more mothers, who will be free from unpaid child-care responsibilities, to take up gainful employment.
In 2022, erstwhile National Creche Scheme was reorganized and renamed as Palna Scheme under the sub scheme ‘Samarthya’ of ‘Mission Shakti’. Palna is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme ensuring the participation of State/ UT government to ensure better day-to-day monitoring and proper implementation of scheme, and is implemented with a funding ratio of 60:40 between Centre and State Governments and UTs with legislature except North East & Special Category States where ratio is 90:10. For UTs without legislature, 100% funding is provided by the central government.
Region
Centre’s Share
State/UT Share
General States
60%
40%
North-Eastern and Special Category States
90%
10%
UTs with Legislature
60%
40%
UTs without Legislature
100%
0%
Objectives of the Palna Scheme
The objective of the Palna scheme is to provide quality crèche facility in safe and secure environment for children (from ages 6 months – 6 years), nutritional support, health and cognitive development of children, growth monitoring & immunization. Crèche facilities under Palna are provided to all mothers, irrespective of their employment status.
Apart from the aforementioned primary objective, another objective of the component would involve monitoring compliance of the stipulations laid down in Section 11A of the Maternity Benefit Act regarding setting up of crèche facilities by the establishments. For this purpose, the States/UTs would explore the possibility of hosting an application/portal in convergence with the Labour & Employment Departments of their respective States/UTs for facilitating establishments to register on the portal and furnish details in respect of the crèches set up in accordance with the Act.
Integrated Package of Services under Palna
The Palna component under the Mission Shakti scheme aims to deliver a comprehensive set of services to children aged 6 months to 6 years. These services are designed to support early childhood care, development, and nutrition in convergence with Mission Poshan 2.0.
Key services include:
Day care facilities, including sleeping arrangements
Early stimulation activities for children below 3 years
Pre-school education for children aged 3 to 6 years
Supplementary nutrition, sourced locally
Growth monitoring, health check-ups, and immunization support
As part of enhancing access to childcare facilities, the Ministry of Labour & Employment has amended the Maternity Benefit Act to mandate all establishments with 50 or more employees to provide a crèche facility.
Anganwadi cum Crèche (AWCC)
There are two types of Crèches under Palna: Standalone Crèches and Anganwadi-cum-Crèches (AWCCs). As per Mission Shakti guidelines, for Standalone Creches, there is a provision of one Creche Worker and one Creche Helper. Similarly, for AWCCs, in addition to the already existing Anganwadi Worker and Anganwadi Helper, a provision for a Creche Helper and a Creche Worker has been made in Mission Shakti Guidelines. Anganwadi centres are the world’s largest childcare institutions dedicated to providing essential care and support to children ensuring delivery of care facilities till the last mile. Anganwadi cum Crèche initiative aims to increase ‘women work force participation’ in the economy. The Ministry of Women and Child Development is targeting to establish 17,000 new Anganwadi cum creches under the Palna Scheme in 2024-25. As of March 2025, 11,395 AWCCs across 34 States/UTs have been approved, as per proposals received from various States and UTs.
Crèche Workers under supervision of Anganwadi worker do proper care and safety of children attending the Creche:
Provideproper arrangements for sleep and rest of children.
Ensurepersonal hygiene and Creche helper keep personal hygiene of every child and keep washrooms clean, help for toilet training.
Inculcate proper toilet habits and toilet training.
Facilitate regular health check-ups and referrals in liaison with Asha/AWWs/Primary Health Centre (PHC)/AWC.
Ensure that the food is hygienicallyand age appropriatelycooked, stored/preserved and fed to the children at appropriate intervals.
Follow all laid out safety procedures for taking/handing over the child and w.r.t. quality of toys and other materials given to the children.
The Anganwadi Cum creche scheme shall be implemented with the intra-ministerial convergence specially with Integrated Child Development Services and Poshan. It complies with legislations under Labour Laws as well as Maternity Benefits Act. As of February 2025, 1,761AWCCs are operational with 28,783 current beneficiaries. Besides this, 1,284 Standalone Creches are also operational across the country with 23,368 current beneficiaries.
Creche Operation under Palna Scheme
The Mission Shakti Guidelines state that the crèche timings need to be flexible depending on the local requirements. Crèches shall be open for 26 days in a month and for seven and half (7.5) hours per day as per the work schedule of majority of the mothers in the area. The Standard Operating Procedures for AWCCs also state that the Creche timings may be decided by State/ UT governments as per local need, however, it has to be ensured that timing should facilitate working mothers.
The Creche Workers and Creche Helpers under Palna are honorary workers. There is no provision of salaryor wages to the Creche Workers or Creche Helpers. However, the scheme guidelines have provision for grant of honorarium to Creche Workers and Creche Helpers. The amount of honorarium is governed through the type of Creche, and is detailed as below:
Type of Creche
Creche Worker
Creche Helper
Standalone Creche
Rs. 6,500
Rs. 3,250
AWCC
Rs. 5,500
Rs. 3,000
Palna as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme is implemented through the respective State/ UT Government. The respective States/ UTs may provide additional amount of honorarium to Creche Worker/ Helpers, as a Top-Up from their own funds. There is no bar or restriction from the Central Government about this.
The funds allocated and released under Palna scheme since its introduction, are detailed as under:
(Amount in Crores)
Financial Year
2022-23
2023-24
2024-25
Amount Allocated
35
85
150.11
Amount Released
4.68
64.15
43.66*
*Data as on December 19, 2024
To maintain quality care and individualized attention, each crèche is ideally limited to a maximum of 25 children. To ensure ease of access and continued breastfeeding for infants, crèches must be situated close to either the:
Residential areas of the children
Workplaces of the mothers (preferably within 0.5–1 km walking distance)
This proximity supports parental engagement and provides convenience in emergencies or regular pick-up and drop-off.
Conclusion
By providing a safe, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate environment for children aged 6 months to 6 years, the Palna scheme ensures that children receive holistic care, nutrition, education, and health services. With convergence across key ministries and flexibility to adapt to local needs, Palna strengthens the foundation for a healthier, more inclusive, and gender-sensitive society.
The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi met Sri Lanka’s Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Sajith Premadasa today in Colombo.
He wrote in separate posts on X:
“Glad to meet Sri Lanka’s Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Sajith Premadasa. Appreciated his personal contribution and commitment to strengthening India-Sri Lanka friendship. Our special partnership receives support in Sri Lanka cutting across party lines. Our cooperation and robust development partnership are guided by the welfare of the people of our two countries.
@sajithpremadasa”
Glad to meet Sri Lanka’s Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Sajith Premadasa. Appreciated his personal contribution and commitment to strengthening India-Sri Lanka friendship. Our special partnership receives support in Sri Lanka cutting across party lines. Our cooperation and robust… pic.twitter.com/fE8SBn34Yd
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Attention TV/radio announcers:
Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals:
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department said today (April 5) that the red flag at Stanley Main Beach in Southern District, Hong Kong Island has been lowered.
The red flag was hoisted earlier due to big waves.