Category: MIL-OSI

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Following is a question by the Hon Jeffrey Lam and a written reply by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, in the Legislative Council today (March 26):

Question:

     Last month, an information security incident occurred in Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) in which its computer systems were attacked by malicious ransomware, affecting its internal Customer Relationship Management system, intranet, website operations, etc. Regarding the occurrence of cybersecurity incidents in government departments and public organisations, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the following information on malicious ransomware attacks on government departments and public organisations in the past three years: (i) the number of cases, (ii) the government departments and public organisations involved, (iii) the number of cases involving leakage of personal, customer or internal data, and (iv) the number of culprits arrested in connection with such cases;

(2) given that Hong Kong is actively attracting businesses and talents, whether the Government has received public complaints or enquiries about the aforesaid information security incident of InvestHK; if so, of the number; whether the Government has assessed if the information security incident has dampened investors’ confidence in the information security of InvestHK, or even investors’ interest in investing in Hong Kong; and

(3) of the measures the Government has put in place to strengthen the security of the computer and information systems of government departments and public organisations, and the expected time for conducting a review of the effectiveness of such measures, so as to continuously ensure the security of the relevant systems of such departments and organisations?

Reply:

President,

     In respect of the question raised by the Hon Jeffrey Lam, having consolidated the information provided by the Security Bureau and the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, my reply is as follows:

(1) According to the Government Information Technology Security Policy and Guidelines, when an information technology (IT) security incident occurs, the concerned bureaux and departments (B/Ds) must report it to the Government Information Security Incident Response Office under the Digital Policy Office (DPO), and notify the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD) and/or the Police depending on the nature of the incident.

In 2022, 2023 and 2024, the DPO received 5, 3 and 2 incident reports respectively that involved ransomware attack of government IT systems. None of these incidents resulted in any data leakage. In view of the nature of the incidents, the sensitivity of the information and security considerations, the departments concerned considered it as inappropriate to publish relevant details, in order not to increase the risk of malicious intrusion into government systems. Upon receipt of the incident reports, the DPO had promptly assisted relevant departments in handling the incidents and provided technical advice to enhance their information security.

As for public bodies, neither the DPO nor the Hong Kong Computer Emergency Response Team Coordination Centre has received any notification of information security incidents from public bodies relating to ransomware attack in the past three years. However, we note that individual public bodies have taken the initiative to make public announcement on relevant incidents having regard to the nature and specific circumstances of the case. To enhance the information security of public bodies and strengthen the incident handling mechanism, the Government has since August 2024 required public bodies to notify the relevant B/Ds of incidents relating to their designated IT systems. As at mid-March this year, the Government has not received any relevant report.

Depending on the circumstances of the case, there is a possibility that a ransomware attack may constitute a breach of “criminal intimidation” (section 24 of the Crimes Ordinance), “criminal damage” (section 60 of the Crimes Ordinance), “access to computers with criminal or dishonest intent” (section 161 of the Crimes Ordinance), or other related offences. The Police does not maintain breakdown statistics on the number of arrests for ransomware attacks.

(2) On February 22 this year, Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) identified an information security incident which involved a malicious ransomware attack to part of InvestHK’s computer systems. Upon identification of the incident, the Department took immediate measures to tighten security of its IT systems to prevent further ransomware attacks. In line with the established procedures, it has on the same day also reported the case to the Police, the DPO, the PCPD and the Security Bureau respectively. According to InvestHK’s investigation findings, there was no evidence indicating leakage of personal information. No further suspicious activities have been identified since then. As at mid-March this year, the Department has not received any public complaints or enquiries related to this information security incident. After the incident, InvestHK promptly issued press releases to clearly explain the situation to the public and its clients. It is believed that the incident has not affected investors’ confidence. InvestHK has all along been observing the Government’s procedures in its information and cybersecurity work. It will continue to cooperate with the DPO and adopt experts’ recommendations in tightening its IT security systems, so as to prevent similar incidents from happening again. 

(3) To enhance the IT security of B/Ds and public bodies, the Government has implemented several enhancement measures which require B/Ds and public bodies under their purview to strengthen the project governance and security of IT systems, including key initiatives such as:

(i) Strengthen oversight responsibility: all B/Ds must appoint a senior directorate officer or the head/ deputy head of the management team of relevant organisation to oversee information security work, and immediately assess and strengthen their existing cybersecurity measures, in order to guard against cyberattacks.
(ii) Regular tests, assessments and audits: all B/Ds and public bodies must arrange additional stress tests and security tests by an independent third party before rollout of their IT systems, and perform security risk assessments for their IT systems at least once every two years. Security risk assessments shall identify and determine the level of IT security risks of an IT system based on risk sources (e.g. vulnerabilities, threats), events (e.g. incident scenarios), and risk impact and likelihood, so as to help prioritise the identified risks for risk management and updating of response measures.
(iii) System health check, penetration test and compliance audit: the DPO introduced a centralised cybersecurity health check platform to conduct regular and continuous health checks and penetration testing on the government’s public-facing IT systems to enhance B/Ds’ ability to identify potential security vulnerabilities, thereby strengthening the prevention of information and cybersecurity incidents. The DPO also launched a new round of government-wide information security compliance audit in 2024, and will select eight government IT systems for in-depth information security compliance audit in 2025.
(iv) Real-life cybersecurity attack and defence drills: starting from 2024, the DPO will organise annual real-life cybersecurity attack and defence drill, and invite different B/Ds and public bodies to participate. The drills will simulate real-life cyberattacks to test the response and resilience of IT systems in the event of cyberattacks, with a view to enhancing the technique, experience and overall defence capabilities of B/Ds and public bodies through the drills and fortifying the defence line.
(v) Step up staff training: the DPO and the Civil Service College jointly organise thematic seminars under the Innovation and Technology leadership series for the senior management of all B/Ds, and provide latest cybersecurity trends and preventive measures to enhance their information security knowledge.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Following is a question by Dr the Hon Johnny Ng and a reply by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, in the Legislative Council today (March 26):
 
Question:
 
The Government established the Hong Kong Investment Corporation Limited (HKIC) in 2022 to manage the investment activities of designated government funds through identifying investment opportunities and strategically promoting development of target industries, while generating investment return. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of an overview of HKIC’s investments since its establishment, including the main industries supported by HKIC’s current portfolios, and how far HKIC can identify the investment targets which can contribute to the economic development of Hong Kong; whether the effectiveness of HKIC’s work has been assessed;
 
(2) given that the Temasek Holdings, founded in 1974, had an asset size reaching S$389 billion (HK$2.3 trillion) in March 2024, making it the eleventh largest sovereign wealth fund in the world, whether HKIC will draw on the successful experiences of, among others, the Temasek Holdings and the Singapore’s Economic Development Board Investment, and strengthen HKIC’s investment efforts while adjusting its investment directions at appropriate times; and
 
(3) as far as Hong Kong’s long-term economic development is concerned, whether it has considered adding a wider variety of sectors in HKIC’s investments, including high-growth industries such as Web 3.0, thereby building up future economic pillars for Hong Kong and attracting talents as well as innovative enterprises to set up their presence in Hong Kong?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     In consultation with the Hong Kong Investment Corporation Limited (HKIC), my consolidated reply to the three parts of the question is as follows:
 
     In the 2022 Policy Address, the Chief Executive announced the establishment of the HKIC to manage the investment for a total of HK$62 billion under the Hong Kong Growth Portfolio, Greater Bay Area Investment Fund, Strategic Tech Fund, and Co-Investment Fund. The positioning of the HKIC is to capitalise the power of “Patient Capital” to channel market capital and leverage market resources, with a view to attracting technology enterprises to set up their operations in Hong Kong, thereby accelerating the construction of a vibrant strategic industry ecosystem, while seeking reasonable financial return over the medium to long term.
 
     The HKIC actively leverages the guiding force of capital to promote collaboration among the investment, industry, academic and research sectors, facilitates the construction of international, regional and cross-border collaboration platform for Hong Kong, and supports the accelerated nurturing of new quality productive forces, thus enhancing Hong Kong’s long-term competitiveness and economic vitality.
 
     Since its establishment, the HKIC has invested in over 90 projects, including enterprises with cutting-edge technologies or in key industries. These projects are medium-to-long-term investments. Key themes include Hard and Core Technology, Biotechnology and New Energy and Green Technology. with the proportions being 56 per cent, 16 per cent and 11 per cent respectively based on the invested amount. In summary, these investments contribute to the development of Hong Kong’s innovation and technology industry, and help local start-ups explore diversified markets and application scenarios. On the other hand, they attract high quality projects and companies from the Mainland and overseas to set up and develop their business in Hong Kong through the channeling force of capital.
 
     The HKIC has clear requirements for investee companies to contribute to Hong Kong’s development in a sustainable manner, such as requiring the companies to establish offices in Hong Kong, nurture and attract talents, establish corporate venture capital (corporate VC) departments in Hong Kong and prioritise Hong Kong for their listing. Quite some investee companies have made good progress in attracting capital and talents and in exploring new markets, which has accelerated their planning for using Hong Kong as their business development platform. Certain investee companies have submitted their listing applications to the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited.
 
     The HKIC also actively collaborates with various investment institutions and joins hands in investing with them, promoting the continuous development and application of cutting-edge technologies in Hong Kong. As of March 2025, every Hong Kong dollar invested by the HKIC has attracted over four Hong Kong dollars from long-term capital in the market for investment.
 
     The investments and relevant work of the HKIC are guided by the vision and needs of Hong Kong’s development. In the future, the HKIC will continue to fully support government policies and the needs of Hong Kong’s economic development, and actively work with different sectors of the society to pool resources and implement its work. The Government has always been fully supportive of the HKIC’s work and will consider the timing and arrangements for capital injection in a timely manner as appropriate.
 
     One of the HKIC’s key strategies for 2025 is to continue to focus on three core themes, namely Hard and Core Technology, Biotechnology, New Energy and Green Technology, and also capture the adjacent opportunities arising from these themes, including “cross-sector” applications. The HKIC also focuses on expediting the deployment and application of cutting-edge technologies, bringing innovative and disruptive research outcomes into the market and to serve the society.
 
     The HKIC has been paying attention to accelerating the exploration of the cutting-edge impetus for growth and to strategising the relevant investment implementation. For example, the first batch of capital allocated to the Investment Portfolio under the New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme, which management is supervised by the HKIC, will be invested in industries and innovative applications in areas such as low-altitude economy, gerontechnology and smart living technologies, as well as intelligent entertainment experiences.
 
Thank you, President.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Following is a question by the Hon Luk Chung-hung and a written reply by the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, in the Legislative Council today (March 26):
 
Question:
 
Some organisations have reportedly found that the current disciplinary inquiry system of the Veterinary Surgeons Board of Hong Kong (VSB) is not well-established, lacks sufficient transparency in information disclosure, and has unclear regulatory oversight of general sales and services within veterinary clinics. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) whether, with reference to the Medical Council of Hong Kong’s practice of posting on its website the judgments of its disciplinary inquiries held since July 2, 2008 and the Dental Council of Hong Kong’s practice of posting on its website the judgments of its disciplinary inquiries handed down since September 17, 2009, it has considered extending the enquiry period for the judgments of the disciplinary inquiries conducted by the VSB’s Inquiry Committee and the orders made by it, as well as including the names of the veterinary surgeons involved in the relevant case summaries; if so, of the implementation timetable; if not, the reasons for that;
 
(2) given that in reply to a question raised by a Member of this Council on the Estimates of Expenditure 2024-2025, the Secretary for Environment and Ecology stated that the VSB’s Inquiry Committee had completed 36 inquiry cases between 2021 and 2023, of which 29 were found to be substantiated, involving 30 veterinary surgeons, but that only two of these veterinary surgeons had been sanctioned with “removal of names of relevant veterinary surgeons from the register for three and six months respectively, along with a reprimand and compulsory participation in continuing professional development programmes or professional seminars”, and it is learnt that many pet owners consider such sanctions to be dissuasive, whether the Government will review the VSB’s existing arrangements for handing down judgments in disciplinary inquiries and consider imposing heavier penalties; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
 
(3) given that item 22 of Schedule 3 to the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (Cap. 362) (the Ordinance) provides that a registered veterinary surgeon, as defined by section 2 of the Veterinary Surgeons Registration Ordinance (Cap. 529), is an exempt person under the Ordinance, and yet it is learnt that some pet owners have pointed out that veterinary assistants often promote nutrition supplements, pet food, over-the-counter drugs (such as deworming drugs), and medicinal fur cleaners, etc. to them while their pets are undergoing treatment at veterinary clinics, and that some veterinary clinics even promote pet accessories on online social media platforms, coupled with the view that the general conduct of sales within veterinary clinics should be regulated under the Ordinance, whether the Government has considered regulating the general conduct of sales and services within veterinary clinics; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
 
(4) whether the Government has considered collaborating with relevant Mainland departments to enable local veterinary surgeons to acquire Mainland professional qualifications through agreements for mutual recognition of professional qualifications or professional qualification examinations under the framework of the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement?

Reply:
 
President,
 
The Veterinary Surgeons Board of Hong Kong (VSB) is a statutory body established under the Veterinary Surgeons Registration Ordinance (Cap. 529) (the Ordinance), and is responsible for the regulation, registration and disciplinary control of veterinary surgeons, to ensure a high standard of veterinary services in Hong Kong. All veterinary surgeons must comply with the Ordinance and Code of Practice for the Guidance of Registered Veterinary Surgeons (the Code) promulgated by the VSB. The Code provides veterinary surgeons with guidelines on various aspects of conduct, including professional ethics, clinic premises and equipment, advertising and other operational details, etc. If a veterinary surgeon breaches the Code, the VSB may take disciplinary actions against the surgeon.

Having consulted the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, the reply to the question from the Hon Luk Chung-hung is as follows:

(1) The VSB currently publishes on its website Orders made by Inquiry Committee within one year with names, and the Findings of Disciplinary Inquiries within three years on an anonymous basis. Moreover, all Orders are published in the Gazette and in one English and one Chinese newspaper circulating in Hong Kong as required by law. In response to the Government’s earlier suggestion on reviewing the existing arrangements with reference to the practices of other professional regulatory bodies, the VSB is considering extending the time for publishing Orders and Findings on its website.

(2) The VSB handles the complaints received in accordance with the complaint mechanism and disciplinary procedures provided under the Ordinance and the Rules of the Veterinary Surgeons Board (Disciplinary Proceedings). To ensure fairness and transparency of the disciplinary procedures, lay persons who represents the interests of persons utilizing veterinary services (e.g. members of animal welfare organisations or tertiary institutions) or medical and health professionals are involved in the handling of complaints by the VSB’s Preliminary Investigation Committee and Inquiry Committee, and the public can also observe the disciplinary hearings. The Inquiry Committee takes into account a number of factors in determining the judgment and penalty, including the seriousness of the case, the character, antecedents and disciplinary record of the veterinary surgeon involved (if any), and the reasons for mitigation (if any), etc., to make an appropriate disciplinary order. To further enhance the disciplinary mechanism, the VSB is considering the feasibility of drawing up guidelines on disciplinary sanctions.

(3) According to Schedule 3 to the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (Cap. 362), a registered veterinary surgeon is an exempt person, which refers that the acts in the capacity of his or her profession are exempted from being regulated by the “fair trading sections” of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance. However, sections 4 and 5 of such Ordinance about the requirement of the provision of information in relation to goods, and section 7 about trade descriptions of goods applied in the course of any trade or business remain applicable.
 
For persons who are not registered veterinary surgeons (including veterinary assistants), if they are suspected of engaging in unfair trade practices in the course of selling pet nutritional supplements, food and other supplies at veterinary clinics or through online platforms, the Customs and Excise Department may take enforcement actions pursuant to the Trade Descriptions Ordinance. Offenders may be prosecuted, and are liable to a maximum penalty of imprisonment for five years and a fine of $500,000.

Moreover, the Code stipulates that veterinary surgeons have the responsibility to supervise and ensure persons who are not registered veterinary surgeons engaged in merchandising are adequately trained to advise clients on directions for use of the products sold and to judge when the client should receive the personal attention of the veterinary surgeon; and the display and sale of goods are such as not to diminish the public’s confidence in the scientific integrity and impartiality of the profession, or damage relationships between the profession and the public. If persons who are not registered veterinary surgeons fail to meet the standards expected of the profession, the registered veterinary surgeon responsible for supervision may be regarded as committing professional misconduct or neglect, and members of the public may lodge a complaint with the VSB in respect of such professional misconduct or neglect.

(4) Under the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement Agreement on Trade in Services (Agreement), eligible Hong Kong residents may apply in the Guangdong Province to take the qualification examination for veterinary practitioners in the whole Mainland, and a corresponding qualification certificate will be issued to those passing the examination. The Agreement also allows Hong Kong residents who have obtained the qualification as national practising Licensed Veterinarians to practise on the Mainland. The Government will continue to liaise with the trade to understand their demand for practising on the Mainland.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Wealth for Good in Hong Kong Summit, which drew some 360 influential global family office principals, visionary leaders and industry pioneers to explore how wealth can drive social progress and sustainable impact, concluded today.

Co-organised by the Financial Services & the Treasury Bureau and Invest Hong Kong, the third edition of the summit delivered an influential platform for collaboration and innovation and drew global decision-makers from regions including the Mainland, Asia, Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, Africa and Hong Kong.

Themed “Hong Kong of the World, for the World”, the event was opened by Financial Secretary Paul Chan. He noted that as an international financial centre, Hong Kong is an ideal place for family offices to thrive.

“We have a robust network of world-class financial service professionals and offer an extensive array of investment opportunities.

“In this city, international foundations, charities and non-governmental organisations come together to form a vibrant philanthropy network. We are also investing heavily to propel Hong Kong’s development in innovation and technology like green tech and AI, benefiting the future of humanity.

“All these, together with the quality lifestyle in Hong Kong, the convergence of Eastern and Western cultures, the dazzling array of mega events, make Hong Kong the ideal place for family offices to thrive and realise their ambitions.”

Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Christopher Hui supplemented that the well-received event reaffirmed Hong Kong’s stature as a pre-eminent global hub for family offices.

He said: “This vibrant city – a beacon of opportunity, a super connector between East and West, and a thriving hub for over 2,700 single family offices – is where your vision, your capital, and your passion can flourish.

“Together, we stand on the cusp of a new era, one where wealth is not just preserved but harnessed as a force for good, transcending borders and generations.

“I invite you to join us in a shared mission: to build, to learn, and to give. These three pillars will define our collaboration, inspiring you to leverage Hong Kong’s unique ecosystem to create a lasting impact.”

The summit featured a distinguished lineup of international speakers who shared insights on the transformative power of wealth. At panel discussions, participants delved into the evolving landscape of art, culture and luxury, the strategic delivery of impact philanthropy, and the expanding role of technology and artificial intelligence in driving sustainable wealth creation. There was also a fireside chat.

Many speakers today rated Hong Kong highly as an ideal place for setting up family offices.

Alibaba Group Co-founder & Chairman Joe Tsai said even through challenging times, Hong Kong’s free-market DNA, vibrant financial markets, and supportive tax environment stand out – making it one of the best places for businesses and family offices to thrive.

The summit concluded with a gala dinner where attendees engaged in discussions about family legacies and opportunities.

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 26 MAR 2025 6:30PM by PIB Delhi

Chief of Army Staff Gen Upendra Dwivedi has highlighted the evolving nature of warfare, the strategic challenges facing India and the need for jointness and synergy among the armed forces. He was addressing the student officers from the Indian Armed Forces undergoing the 80^th Staff Course and the permanent staff at Defence Services Staff College, Wellington.

COAS commended DSSC for its pivotal role in grooming future military leaders and emphasised the importance of professional military education in enhancing operational preparedness and decision making capabilities.

The COAS underscored the significance of leadership, adaptability and technological integration in modern warfare. He urged officers to remain proactive in their approach to emerging security threats and to embrace innovation in military planning and operations.

During his visit, COAS also interacted with faculty members, discussing key aspects of military strategy, operational art and leadership development. He acknowledged the institution’s contributions in fostering inter service cooperation and strengthening India’s defence preparedness.

Gen Dwivedi was briefed by Commandant DSSC Lt Gen Virendra Vats, on the adaptation of the Staff Course curriculum to align to the challenges of Future Wars, with special reference to the activities of the first Deep Purple Division, wherein 40 tri-services officers have undergone their training.

The COAS also interacted with the Veterans of Wellington Military station and recognised their contributions with the ‘veteran Achievers Award’.

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SR/Anand

(Release ID: 2115429) Visitor Counter : 1272

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 26 MAR 2025 6:39PM by PIB Delhi

Induction ceremony for fourth 25T Bollard Pull (BP) Tug Yuvan was held on 26 Mar 25 at Naval Dockyard (Visakhapatnam) in presence of Cmde Rajeev John, General Manager (Refit) as the Chief Guest.

These Tugs are a part of the contract for construction of six (06) 25T BP Tugs concluded with M/s Titagarh Rail Systems Limited (TRSL), Kolkata on 12 Nov 21. These Tugs have been indigenously designed and built in accordance with the relevant Naval Rules and Regulation of Indian Register of Shipping (IRS). The Shipyard had successfully delivered three of these Tugs which are being utilised by Indian Navy to provide assistance to Naval ships and submarines during berthing, un-berthing and manoeuvring in confined waters. The Tugs will also provide afloat fire-fighting support to ships alongside or at anchorage and will also have the capability to conduct limited Search and Rescue (SAR) Operations.

These Tugs are proud flag bearers of Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiatives of Government of India.

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VM/SPS                                                                                                        66/25

(Release ID: 2115444) Visitor Counter : 460

Source: Government of India

NHRC, India presents awards to the seven winners of its short films on Human Rights competition in 2024

NHRC, India Chairperson, Justice Shri V. Ramasubramanian, says the Commission’s short film competition on human rights effectively fulfilling its purpose of creating awareness about human rights for a decade now

Says the increasing number of entries in the NHRC short film competition from various parts of the country in different languages since 2015 indicates growing human rights awareness

Congratulating the winners he describes all the participants in the competition as the brand ambassadors of human rights

Posted On: 26 MAR 2025 5:24PM by PIB Delhi

The National human Rights Commission (NHRC), India, today organised a function at its premises in New Delhi to felicitate and present awards to the seven winners of its short film competition on human rights in 2024. Addressing the gathering, Justice Shri V. Ramasubramanian, Chairperson, NHRC, India, said that the objective of the Commission is to create awareness to promote and protect human rights. Its short film competition on human rights has been very effectively fulfilling this purpose for a decade. NHRC Members, Justice (Dr) Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi, and Smt Vijaya Bharathi Sayani, Secretary General, Shri Bharat Lal and other senior officers were present.

Justice Ramasubramanian said that in the inaugural run of this competition in 2015, only about 40 entries were received. In its tenth year, in 2024, more than 300 entries were received from different parts of the country. This shows, how significantly the human rights awareness and this event has gained traction with people from Kashmir to Kanyakumari choosing to make films in various Indian languages on various human rights and make people aware about them, which is heartening to know.

Congratulating the seven award winners, Justice Subramanian said that the awarded films have touched a range of human rights issues, including river water pollution, the value of potable water, child marriage and education, rights of older persons, rights violations due to certain religious practices, women’s rights and domestic violence. He appreciated all the participants and described them as the brand ambassadors of human rights. He expressed the hope that next year they would make more films on human rights and win awards.

Before this, NHRC, India Member, Justice (Dr) Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi in his remarks said that all the seven films carried different messages. He said that the films are an effective medium to promote and protect human rights among masses. He particularly highlighted the documentary Doodh Ganga, which indicates how the pollution has changed the landscape of the valley that needs to be addressed.

NHRC, India Member, Smt Vijaya Bharathi Sayani said that the winners have worked tirelessly to bring the stories to life to challenge stereotypes, break societal barriers, and empower people to think, feel and act. She said that their dedication is not just about filmmaking but about advocacy, courage and commitment to a better world. Every frame they have captured and message delivered contributes towards a greater cause where human dignity is respected, voices are heard, and justice prevails.

Earlier, the NHRC, India Secretary General, Shri Bharat Lal, in his opening remarks, gave an overview of the short film competition of the NHRC, which started in 2015 each year with an increased number of entries with quality films. He said that for the tenth edition of the competition in 2024, a total of 303 entries were received. After initial scrutiny, 243 went into the fray for the awards decided by three rounds of rigorous jury process including the final round chaired by the NHRC Chairperson, and Members, and senior officers deciding the seven winners.He said that all the awarded films will be uploaded on the website of the Commission, like in previous years. These are open to screening for human rights awareness purposes by government departments, training and academic institutions, as well as civil society.

NHRC, India Director, Lt. Col. Virender Singh announced the names of the prize winners. Er. Abdul Rashid Bhat’s film ‘Doodh Ganga- Valley’s Dying Lifeline’ was awarded the first prize of Rs. 2 lakh, a trophy and a certificate. The documentary film from Jammu & Kashmir raises concerns about how the free flow of various wastes into the pristine water of the Doodh Ganga River has polluted it and the need for its restoration for the overall good of the people in the valley. The film is in English, Hindi and Urdu with subtitles in English.

The second prize of Rs. 1.5 lakh, a trophy and a certificate were given to ‘Fight for Rights’ by Kadarappa Raju from Andhra Pradesh. The film raises the issue of child marriage and education. It is in Telugu language with subtitles in English.

The third prize of Rs. 1 lakh, a trophy and a certificate was given to ‘GOD’ by Shri R. Ravichandran from Tamil Nadu The silent film through an old protagonist raises the value of potable water.

The four films were awarded ‘Certificate of Special Mention’ with Rs 50,000 each. These included: ‘Aksharabhyasam’ by Shri Haneesh Undramatla from Telangana; ‘Vilayilla Pattathari (An inexpensive graduate)’ by Shri R. Selvam from Tamil Nadu; ‘Life of Seetha’ by Shri Madaka Venkata Satyanarayana from Andhra Pradesh and ‘Be a Human’ by Shri Lotla Naveen from Andhra Pradesh.

The award-winners also shared the thoughts behind the making of their award-winning short films.

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NSK

(Release ID: 2115356) Visitor Counter : 387

Source: Government of India

Ministry of Rural Development and United Nations Children’s Fund YuWaah Collaborate to Empower Rural Women and Youth

Ministry of Rural Development and UNICEF YuWaah signs a Statement of Intent to empower rural women and youth across India

Posted On: 26 MAR 2025 6:50PM by PIB Delhi

The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) YuWaah have signed a Statement of Intent (SOI) to empower rural women and youth across India. This three-year partnership focuses on creating livelihood opportunities by connecting women from Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to jobs, self-employment, entrepreneurship, and skill-building initiatives, thereby boosting female labour force participation in rural areas.

        As part of the collaboration, efforts will be made to strengthen digital infrastructure through the establishment of Computer Didi Centers and Didi ki Dukan in five blocks across five states, namely- Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Rajasthan. This pilot project has the potential to scale up and reach 35 lakh women across more than 7000 blocks after being successful.

      The SOI was signed by Shri T.K. Anil Kumar, Additional Secretary, MoRD, and Ms. Sharada Thapalia, Deputy Representative (Operations), UNICEF India. Speaking at the signing ceremony,

  Shri T.K. Anil Kumar said, “This partnership has come at a very opportune time as it aligns with the Rural Prosperity and Resilience Programme announced in the Budget 2025-26. It is particularly significant because nearly one-third of the 10 crore SHG members are youth, who will play a central role in this initiative.”

Ms. Sharada Thapalia said, “MoRD’s extensive network of over 10 crore SHG women serves as a powerful social infrastructure that can be leveraged to reach those who need this opportunity the most.”

 The partnership will also feature innovative initiatives, such as Youth Hub, a cutting-edge aggregator platform for jobs, skilling, and volunteering. Additionally, scalable models will be tested to create thousands of Lakhpati Didis, furthering the Government’s vision of empowering women entrepreneurs.

  Ms. Smriti Sharan, Joint Secretary, MoRD, Dr. Monika, Deputy Secretary, MoRD along with team members of MoRD and UNICEF YuWaah were also present on this occasion.

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MG/RN/KSR

(Release ID: 2115453) Visitor Counter : 356

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 26 MAR 2025 5:29PM by PIB Delhi

The National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) is a digital initiative designed to make legislative proceedings of all State/UT Legislatures paperless from end to end. It promotes transparency by providing online access to live-streaming sessions, records of debates, legislative proceedings, and other important legislative documents.

The NeVA platform provides access to a wide range of records and documents related to key Parliamentary/Legislative functions of legislative bodies, who have on-boarded the platform, including List of Business, Questions and their Replies, Notices, Debates, Proceedings, Bills, Committee Reports, and Papers Laid, etc.

The NeVA Public Portal is already available in 23 languages to ensure wider access and encourage linguistic inclusivity.

As part of capacity building measures, workshops-cum-training programmes are conducted to acquaint all its stakeholders i.e. Members, Staff of Legislatures and Government Departments about the application. Furthermore, under the project e-Learning cum e-Facilitation Centres i.e. NeVA Sewa Kendras (NSK) are set up to facilitate the training and capacity building of the stakeholders.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Law and Justice; Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

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SS/ISA

(Release ID: 2115364) Visitor Counter : 315

Source: Government of India

Indian Railways to Implement Access Control System with Permanent Holding Areas at 60 Stations

Indian Railways enhances crowd management with wider foot-over-bridges, CCTV surveillance and war rooms

Posted On: 26 MAR 2025 8:11PM by PIB Delhi

With a view to handle heavy rush of passengers at stations during festival/Mela periods, limited Access Control System has been experimented by the Railways where during such periods, holding areas were created outside stations and passengers were allowed only when the train came to the platform.

Further, to handle heavy rush of passengers at stations, following decisions have been taken by railways –

1. Permanent holding areas at 60 stations:

1. During the festival season of 2024, holding areas were created outside stations. These waiting areas were able to hold large crowds at Surat, Udhna, Patna and New Delhi. Passengers were allowed only when the train came to the platform.
2. Similar arrangements were made during Mahakumbh at nine stations of Prayag area.
3. Based on the experience of these stations, it has been decided to create permanent waiting areas outside stations at 60 stations across the country, which periodically face heavy crowds.
4. Pilot projects have started at New Delhi, Anand Vihar, Varanasi, Ayodhya, and Ghaziabad stations.
5. With this concept, the sudden crowd will be contained within the waiting area. Passengers will be allowed to go to platforms only when the trains arrive at the platform. This will decongest the stations.

2.         Access control:

1. Complete access control will be initiated at the 60 stations.
2. Passengers with confirmed reserve tickets will be given direct access to the platforms.
3. Passengers without a ticket or with a waiting list ticket will wait in the outside waiting area.
4. All unauthorised entry points will be sealed.

3.         Wider foot-over-bridges (FOB):

1. Two new designs of 12 metre wide (40 feet) and 6 metre wide (20 feet) standard FOB have been developed. These wide FOBs with ramps were very effective in crowd management during Mahakumbh. These new standard wide FOBs will be installed in all the stations.

4.         Cameras:

1. Cameras helped crowd management in a big way during Mahakumbh. A large number of cameras will be installed in all stations and adjoining areas for close monitoring.

5.         War rooms:

1. War rooms at large stations will be developed. Officers of all departments will work in the war room during crowd situations.

6.         New generation communication equipment:

1. Latest design digital communication equipment like walkie-talkies, announcement systems, calling systems will be installed on all heavy crowd stations.

 

7.         New design ID card:

1. All staff and service persons will be given a new design ID card so that only authorised persons can enter the station.

8.         New design uniform for staff:

1. All staff members will be given new design uniforms so that they can be easily identified during a crisis situation.

9.         Upgradation of station director post:

1. All major stations will have a senior officer as station director. All other departments will report to the station director.
2. Station director will get financial empowerment so that he can take on- the-spot decisions for improving the station.

10.       Sale of tickets as per capacity:

1. Station Director will be empowered to control the sale of tickets as per capacity of the station and the available trains.

In addition, for the security arrangements and to streamline passenger flow, station specific plans are made involving all the stakeholders that include Government Railway Police (GRP), Local Police and Local Civil Administration and accordingly action is taken to manage the influx of passengers. Queue System is maintained for hassle free boarding of important trains at originating stations.

GRP & RPF staffs are deployed at foot-over bridges to regulate crowd smoothly in order to avoid stampede like situation during the heavy rush period and render real time assistance to passengers. Intelligence units (CIB/SIB) and plain cloth staff are deployed for collection of information about rush and accordingly arrangements were made associating GRP/Police.

During peak rush periods, when heavy movement of passengers is anticipated, zonal Railways are authorized to restrict entry to stations by stopping issuing of platform tickets except for persons coming to the station just to assist the aged, illiterate and female passengers who are not  in a position to fend themselves at Railway stations.

This information was given by the Union Minister of Railways, Information & Broadcasting and Electronics & Information Technology Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

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Dharmendra Tewari/Shatrunjay Kumar

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