Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Kendras are accepting orders for medicines on WhatsApp and e-mail amid lockdown. Medicines are delivered at the doorsteps of the patients on the basis of uploaded preions. This novel move is ensuring use of technology for facilitating easier procurement of medicines by the users.
 
Complimenting this initiative, Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers Sadananda Gowda said, it is heartening that many Janaushadhi Kendras are using modern communication tools to provide essential medicines to the needy.
 
At present, there are over 6,300 such Kendras functioning in 726 districts at affordable prices. These medicine are cheaper by about 50 to 90 per cent on an average.

Rural Development Minister Narendra Singh Tomar has launched the Saras collection on Government e Marketplace (GeM) portal in New Delhi. The Saras collection showcases daily utility products made by rural self-help groups. It aims to provide market in rural areas with access to Central and State Government buyers.
 
AIR correspondent reports that under the initiative, sellers from Self Help Group will be able to list their products in five product categories. These five categories are handicrafts, handloom and textiles, office accessories, grocery and pantry and personal care and hygiene.
 
In the first phase, 913 Self Help Groups from 11 States have already registered as sellers and 442 products have been listed. GeM will provide dashboards for functionaries at the national, state, district and block level to provide them real time information about the product, value and volume of the orders.

Department of Agriculture Kashmir has been granted Certificate of Registration by Registrar of Geographical Indication, Chennai, Government of India in respect of Kashmir Saffron. The Registered Proprietor of the G.I Kashmir Saffron is Director Agriculture, Kashmir, facilitated by SKUAST (K) and Saffron Research Station Dusso Pampore J&K.

Highlighting the achievement, Director Agriculture, Kashmir, Altaf Aijaz Andrabi said that GI is a sign on products that have a specific geographical origin and the product may have special quality or reputation, an official handout said.

New Delhi: The Defence Institute of Advanced Technology, Pune, a deemed university supported by Defence Research and Development Organisation has developed a microwave sterilizer named as ‘ATULYA’ to disintegrate COVID-19.

The virus gets disintegrated by differential heating in the range of 560 to 600 Celsius temperatures.

The product is cost-effective solution, which can be operated in portable or fixed installations. This system was tested for human/operator safety and has been found to be safe.

Denis Goldberg, the South African anti-apartheid campaigner who worked closely with Nelson Mandela, has died aged 87.

Goldberg was jailed in 1964 on treason charges and spent 22 years in a Pretoria prison.

His niece, Joy Noero, told the press he “died peacefully” in his home in Hout Bay, near Cape Town, after suffering from lung cancer.

Born in 1933 to a Jewish family who had emigrated from the UK, he faced antisemitic attacks at school and later said: "I understood that what was happening in South Africa with its racism was like the racism in Nazi Germany that we were supposed to be fighting against.

"You have to be involved one way or another. That's what I grew up with."

He was a lifelong supporter of the African National Congress and became a member of the armed wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe, when it was formed in 1961.

• The former banker Sharma will be a mentor at Google’s digital payment initiative – Google Pay.
• Sharma is now an independent director at four companies-- Tech Mahindra, Dr. Reddy’s Labs, Tata Global Beverages (which operates Starbucks chain in India) and Ambuja Cement.
• In 2018, the RBI had asked the country’s third-largest private bank Axis Bank to ‘reconsider’ extending their then CEO Shikha Sharma’s tenure.

Former Axis Bank CEO Shikha Sharma has been appointed as an advisor to Google Pay.

Former India football captain Chuni Goswami, 82, passed away in Kolkata on Thursday after a prolonged illness. The captain of the 1962 Asian Games gold-medal winning team, Goswami had also represented Bengal in first-class cricket tournaments.

For the last few months, Goswami was suffering from underlying ailments with sugar, prostate, and nerve problems. His family confirmed that Goswami was admitted to a city hospital earlier in the day and breathed his last at 5 pm after cardiac arrest.

Under his captaincy, the Indian football team won gold at the 1962 Asian Games, finished runner-up at the Asian Cup in 1964, and narrowly lost to Burma in Merdeka football six months later. In club football, Goswami always played for Mohun Bagan. In his college days, he captained Calcutta University in both football and cricket in the same year.

The Japanese government has conferred the ‘Order of Rising Sun’ award on a Manipur physician for promoting a better understanding of Japan in India and deepening ties between the two countries.

The ‘Order of the Rising Sun’ is conferred on persons with achievements in international relations, promotion of Japanese culture, environmental preservation, welfare or achievements in their fields

The award was constituted by Japanese Emperor Meiji in 1875.

Thangjam Dhabali Singh, a doctor by profession and founder of the Manipur Tourism Forum (MTF), was conferred the ‘Order of Rising Sun – Gold and Silver Rays’ by the Japanese government on Wednesday, said a statement.

Freedom fighter and Gandhian Hema Bharali, known for her efforts to uplift the condition of women and empower the marginalised sections of society, died at her residence here on Wednesday morning due to old age related health issues, her close associates said.

She was 101 and a spinster.

Her last rites were performed with full state honours here.

Assam Governor Jagdish Mukhi condoled the death of the veteran freedom fighter and said that the state has lost a leading social worker and a Gandhian.

“Her life and works will continue to be a source of inspiration for the present and upcoming generations in the state,” he added.

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal also expressed his deepest condolences.

“Saddened to hear the news of noted Gandhian leader, freedom fighter and Padma Shri awardee Hem Bharali aaita’s passing away. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members,” he tweeted.

Born on February 19, 1919, Bharali had received the Padma Shri in 2005.

In 2006, she was awarded the National Communal Harmony Award by the National Foundation for Communal Harmony under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

She also received the Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Memorial Award for National Integration from the Assam government.

May 1 is celebrated as International Labour Day 2020 or May Day 2020 across the world. In India, this day is also known as Labour Day, May Day, Shramik Divas and Mazdoor Divas and Kamghar Divas in Maharashtra. This day celebrates the contribution of the labour force in the development of the Indian economy. Labour Day or Shramik Divas is celebrated for labour rights and unity. Many countries like India observe this day as a public holiday. Labour unions across the country organise rallies and public gatherings to mark this day but this year that won't be possible due to the ongoing nationwide lockdown to contain COVID-19. Here are some wishes, quotes, images, status from our side that encapsulate the essence of this day perfectly:

• Work is no disgrace. Instead, the disgrace is idleness. Happy May Day 2020

• May Day is the day to salute the hard work and dedication of strong-willed souls around us. Wishing them a very happy Mayday.

• To all the good workers of society, we humbly thank you for your constant service to the nation. Happy international workers day to you.

• Those who enjoy their work can only do it correctly.- Aristotle