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NAVY Operation Sankalp, safeguarding India’s Maritime Trade routes
Nasheman News
New Delhi: In the backdrop of the deteriorating security situation in the Gulf region, post attacks on merchant ships in the Gulf of Oman in June 2019, Indian Navy had commenced Maritime Security Operations, code named Op SANKALP, in the Gulf Region on 19 June 2019 to ensure safe passage of Indian Flag Vessels transiting through the Strait of Hormuz.
In the trade routes for a merchant ship sailing in an area of high tension, especially under threat of attack, the presence of a warship flying the flag of the same nationality is a highly reassuring sign.
The deployment of Indian Naval warships in the Persian Gulf to ensure safety of Indian Flag Merchant Vessels carrying both import and export cargo after the attack on merchant ships in the Gulf of Oman is a case in point. These deployments under Operation Sankalp, which commenced from 19 June 2019, are aimed at protecting Indian Flag Merchant Vessels and ensuring their safe passage in the Gulf region and through the Strait of Hormuz.
‘Sankalp’, is a Sanskrit word which means “Commitment” and is in standing with the Indian Navy’s aim to protect India’s shipping and trade, which is clearly reflected as one of the National Maritime Interests espoused in the Indian Navy’s unclassified Strategy Document, “Ensuring Secure Seas: Indian Maritime Security Strategy”.
This article highlights safeguarding of India’s mercantile marine and maritime trade as an important objective under the military role. Given the complexity of the operation and international environment in which Indian Naval ships are operating, Op-Sankalp is being undertaken with active interaction, and close coordination, with the Ministries of Defence, External Affairs, Shipping, Petroleum and Natural Gas, and the Director General of Shipping.
West Asia, specifically the Persian Gulf, is an important area for India’s Maritime Trade. In the financial year 2019-2020, around 62 per cent of India’s oil imports valued at approximately 66 Billion USD came from this area. For the same year, India’s exports and imports from the region stood at around 51 Billion USD and 108.2 Billion USD, respectively. These constitute 8.1 per cent and 11.4 per cent of India’s total exports and imports, respectively. Therefore, Operation Sankalp is a significant Indian Naval endeavour. Till date, since June 2019, 20 Indian warships have been deployed and more than 200 Indian Flag Vessels carrying more than 21 Million Tonnes of cargo were provided safe passage.
The deployment is based on the inherent attributes of a blue water navy, specifically reach, versatility and presence, where the operations of a nation’s maritime forces in furtherance of its national interest is representative of national interest and political intent.
In normal times this would have been a “normative” deployment. However, under the shadow of the Covid pandemic, the ability of the Indian Navy to deploy its warships indicates the high level of operational availability and readiness maintained.
This is also indicative of the strict protocols and mechanisms followed by the Indian Navy to mitigate the impact of Covid on its manpower, and hence deployments and operations. As a result, apart from the ongoing anti-piracy patrols and Op-Sankalp, the Indian Navy successfully carried out several deployments and operations. Under Operation Samudra Setu, launched on 05 May 2020, as part of the national effort to repatriate Indian citizens from overseas, 3992 Indian citizens were brought back to India by warships. Under Mission Sagar, assistance to combat Covid was provided to five IOR island nations (Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar and Comoros), in response to their request for supporting their ongoing national efforts.
The Indian Navy will, even under adverse conditions, continue to deploy warships to protect and further India’s Maritime Interests, while also meeting its responsibilities and obligations of being the first responder in the maritime domain, and as a preferred security partner for many.
Put people’s lives at the centre not your blind arrogance: Rahul Gandhi on Central Vista project
NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday attacked the Union government over the central vista project, terming it a “criminal wastage” and asked the dispensation to focus on people’s lives.
The CPWD, which is executing the project, had revised its estimated cost from Rs 11,794 crore to Rs 13,450 crore.
“Central Vista is criminal wastage. Put people’s lives at the centre — not your blind arrogance to get a new house,” he said on Twitter.
Gandhi and his Congress party have been asking the government to shelve its plans on the central vista project and give priority to improving medical infrastructure during the COVID-19 pandemic to save people’s lives.
It has also criticised the government for according the construction work of the Central Vista project “essential services” tag and has and accused it of having its priorities wrong.
The work on the project has continued despite the lockdown in the national capital that has brought most construction sites to a grinding halt.
The construction work for the project has been brought under the ambit of “essential services”, a move that been flayed by the opposition.
Switzerland sends oxygen concentrates other medical supplies to India
NEW DELHI: Extending support to India in its fight against the coronavirus pandemic, Switzerland on Thursday said it has sent medical supplies, including oxygen concentrators and respirators, worth CHF 3 million (over Rs 24 crore) to assist hospitals in the country.
A cargo aircraft carrying more than 13 tonnes of medical supplies left Zurich for New Delhi.
The consignment comprises 600 oxygen concentrators, purchased by Swiss Humanitarian Aid from private sector suppliers, and 50 respirators donated by the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS).
“The total value of the medical supplies sent by Switzerland is around CHF 3 million.
A significant proportion of this amount was covered by the DDPS, which donated the respirators for patients in intensive care.
“Swiss Humanitarian Aid, which is part of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), mobilised additional funds to purchase the remaining supplies, in particular the oxygen concentrators, and to cover transport costs,” FDFA said in a release.
At current exchange rates, CHF 3 million translates to more than Rs 24 crore.
The medical supplies provided by Switzerland will be received by the Indian Red Cross and distributed to hospitals by the Indian Ministry of Health, which is responsible for coordinating international medical aid, the release said.
According to the release, the respirators were purchased by the Armed Forces Pharmacy in accordance with Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) requirements to support the Swiss healthcare system.
Prior enquiries were made to ensure that these respirators are not needed in Switzerland.
The supplies sent to India also include body bags, it added.
FDFA noted that the health situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has been deteriorating in India for several weeks.
“Switzerland responded swiftly with an offer of support to the Indian government. The Indian government formally accepted the Swiss offer last week,” it said.
The Swiss Humanitarian Aid operation required close cooperation between the FDFA’s head office and the DDPS in Bern, the Swiss Embassy in India and the Indian authorities in order to determine the needs on the ground and procure the necessary medical supplies, it added.
As per health ministry data updated on Thursday morning, new coronavirus cases and deaths in India hit a record daily high with 4,12,262 new infections and 3,980 fatalities being reported.
The total tally of COVID cases has increased to to 2,10,77,410 while the death toll is 2,30,168.
Japan set to extend coronavirus emergency in Tokyo through May 31
TOKYO: Japan is set to expand and extend a state of emergency in Tokyo and other areas through May 31 as the coronavirus continues spreading and uncertainty grows about safely holding the Olympics just 11 weeks away.
The current emergency in Tokyo and Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo prefectures in the west is scheduled to end Tuesday.
Instead, officials are seeking an extension in those areas and to expand the virus-control measure to Aichi in central Japan and Fukuoka in the south.
Officials in charge of Japan’s COVID-19 response are seeking experts’ endorsement of the plan, and Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga will announce the measures later Friday.
Tokyo logged 591 new cases of coronavirus infection Thursday, a slight dip from when the state of emergency began in the capital last month, but far above a target of 100 that some experts recommend.
The extension deepens uncertainty over a speculated May 17 visit by International Olympics Committee President Thomas Bach and if Japan, one of the world’s least vaccinated nations, can safely host the Summer Olympics postponed from last year and scheduled to be held July 23-Aug 8.
Despite criticism for being slow to take virus measures, Suga has been reluctant to hurt the already pandemic-damaged economy and pledged to keep the state of emergency short and intensive,” though experts said just over two weeks would be too short to effectively slow the infections.
The ongoing emergency is Japan’s third and came only a month after an earlier measure ended in the Tokyo area.
Less stringent, quasi-emergency will be expanded to eight prefectures from the current six where bars and restaurants are required to close early.
Japan has about 616,000 cases including about 10,500 deaths since the pandemic began.
The country has managed so far without any enforced lockdowns, but people are becoming impatient and less cooperative to virus measures, making them less effective.
Medical systems in hardest-hit Osaka have been under severe pressure from a COVID-19 outbreak there that is hampering ordinary health care, experts say.
A number of patients died at home recently after their conditions worsened while waiting for vacancy at hospitals.
Past emergency measures, issued a year ago and then in January, were toothless and authorized only non-mandatory requests.
The government in February toughened a law on anti-virus measures to allow authorities to issue binding orders for nonessential businesses to shorten their hours or close, in exchange for compensation for those who comply and penalties for violators.
Shutdown requirements for bars, karaoke and most entertainment facilities will stay in place until the end of May, but department stores will be allowed to operate for shorter hours.
Wearing masks, staying home and other measures for the general public remain non-mandatory request.
The government has also been criticized over its snail-paced vaccination rollout, which has covered only 2 per cent of the population since inoculations began in mid-February.
Australia to lift ban on citizens returning from COVID-hit India next Saturday: Scott Morrison
Melbourne: Australia will lift a ban on its citizens returning from COVID-hit India from next Saturday and the first repatriation flight will land in the city of Darwin the same day, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Friday.
The Australian government, for the first time in history, recently imposed a temporary ban on its citizens from returning home, if they have spent time in India up to 14 days before flying back.
The government threatened to prosecute them with a possibility of five years of jail term or a penalty of 66,000 Australian dollars (USD 50,899).
The move triggered a backlash with several lawmakers, doctors, civil societies and businessmen criticising the government for “abandoning” Australians in India and threatening the travellers with a hefty penalty and a jail term.
The government’s order on the matter is set to expire on May 15.
Following the National Security Committee on Friday, Morrison agreed it saw “no need to extend it beyond that date”.
Australia will charter three repatriation flights between May 15 and May 31. The first flight into Darwin will touch down on May 15. Direct commercial flights from India are still banned.
Morrison said flights being organised to repatriate stranded Australians will be “focused on bringing those Australian citizens, residents and families who have been registered with our high commission and consular offices within India.”
“It will also be targeted (at) those 900 most vulnerable of the group,” he said after the latest national Cabinet meeting
“I have asked the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) to do a review of those registrations those who been registered in India to ensure they are current. And that will assist a proper prioritisation of placing people on those flights,” Morrison said.
”The charters will be undertaken by the Australian crews, and they will require rapid antigen testing prior to departure,” he said.
He said that three flights will land in Darwin by the end of this month while Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria were also open to taking in more flights from India which means there could be six flights potentially.
Morrison, while addressing a media conference, said a three-week pause on flights from India has slowed the rate of COVID-19 infections in quarantine facilities.
”We have already facilitated the return of around 20,000 Australians from India, and this has been a big task. And that task will commence again on May 15, he said.
”All of this is about sensibly preventing a third wave of COVID-19 here in Australia, and doing that responsibly, while at the same time doing everything we can to sustainably bring Australians home from what is currently the most significant hot spot for those travelling into Australia of anywhere in the world right now,” Morrison said.
“The biosecurity order is doing its job. It is doing what we intended it to do. It will run for the term we intended for it to run, and then that will be replaced by arrangements made beyond that point to ensure we can prevent the third wave,” he said.
Media reports said that Morrison was due to speak to Prime Minister Narendra Modi later on Friday to see what further assistance Australia can give.
“I want to thank in particular, in Australia, our Australian community of people who are of Indian descent. The Indian community here in Australia. I thank them for their patience. I thank them for their understanding,” Morrison said.
“…I know they will be welcoming the fact these repatriation flights will be returning once again but also believe we will be able to do that because of the actions we have taken on a sustainable basis,” he added.
Official figures say there are currently 9,000 Australians in India who want to return home.
With a record 4,14,188 new coronavirus infections being reported in a day, India’s total tally of COVID-19 cases climbed to 2,14,91,598, while the active cases crossed the 36-lakh mark, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Friday.
Meanwhile, Australia’s chief medical officer Paul Kelly stood firm on advice on India travel suspension.
“With the data, we had in terms of the increasing cases coming from India, where they have had over 2 million cases in the past week, with thousands of deaths, the contrast between their expense and our experience, and I joined the prime minister in my heart going out to people in India and those with loved ones in India,” Kelly said.
“We had to take that into account to protect Australia using the data we had last week. And it’s working.” Kelly said.
According to ABC news, many Australians have fled to Sri Lanka from India. The federal government is now working with Sri Lanka towards ensuring people who board flights to Australia have received a negative test. PTI NC AKJ
M K Stalin sworn in as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu
Chennai: Muthuvel Karunanidhi Stalin, the DMK president who led his party to a huge victory in the Assembly polls was sworn in as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on Friday.
Governor Banwarilal Purohit administered the oath of office and secrecy to 68-year old Stalin, for whom this would be the first stint as CM, in a simple ceremony at the Raj Bhavan here.
AIADMK top leader O Panneerselvam, leaders from alliance parties including Congress’s P Chidambaram, MDMK chief Vaiko and top state officials took part in the ceremony.
The ceremony witnessed adherence to COVID-19 guidelines including wearing masks.
4-year-old boy falls into open borewell in Rajasthan
Jaipur: A four-year-old boy fell into a 70-foot-deep open borewell in Rajasthan’s Jalore district on Thursday, police said.
The child, identified as Anil Devasi, is alive, and efforts are underway to rescue him, they said.
Oxygen is being pumped into the borewell, the police added.
Couldn’t get ventilator bed for wife, says helpless Mysuru health officer
The health officer pouring out his struggle, with the patient’s attendant, to arrange a ventilator bed for his wife has gone viral on social media.
MYSURU: At a time when thousands are scrambling to find beds and save the lives of their family members, the magnitude of the crisis can be gauged from the fact that even those in positions of authority seem helpless, even when it comes to their own family members.
An audio clip of Mysuru District Health Officer (DHO) T Amarnath, pleading his inability to arrange a bed for a patient, has called into question the system of bed management in the district. The health officer pouring out his struggle, with the patient’s attendant, to arrange a ventilator bed for his wife has gone viral on social media.
“I was not able to get a ventilator bed for my wife. Then, how can I help you? I am completely lost and it is out of my hands,” Amarnath can be heard telling a man who had called seeking help to get a ventilator bed for a critically ill patient admitted at ESI Hospital here.
Enraged by the DHO’s reply, the patient’s attendant questioned Amarnath why he was continuing in the position when he couldn’t help people. “My situation is such. It is out of my hands. I am ready to face action or even go home if action is taken,” he can be heard saying.
The audio clip, leaked on social media platforms, reveals the helplessness of health officials who are struggling just like commoners at a time with the second wave of the pandemic has wreaked havoc in the state.
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