India To Focus On Untapped Tourism Potential

 

BJP recognizes the role tourism and hospitality can play as a foreign exchange earner and its ability to create millions of jobs every year. Tourism plays a key role in socio-economic progress through creation of jobs, enterprise, infrastructure development, and foreign exchange earnings.

BJP realizes that the tourism sector needs a clear plan for growth, and BJP commits to initiate a mission mode project to create 50 tourist circuits that are affordable and built around themes like: a.) Archaeological and Heritage, b.) Cultural and Spiritual, c.) Himalayan, d.) Desert, e.) Coastal, f.) Medical (Ayurveda and Modern Medicine), etc. This will lead to creation of infrastructure and employment around each tourist circuit and help in boosting revenue generation.

Specialized course in tourism will be started for capacity development. Safety and Security of tourists would be accorded due priority.

Labour Force - The Pillar of Our Growth

BJP recognizes the fact that the labour is the key to the revival of the economy and so are the laws governing them. We believe in promoting a harmonious relationship between labour and the industry, with both playing an important contributory role in economic growth and development.

We will ensure that the interests of labour in the unorganized sector are protected.

For the organized labour, we propose to encourage industry owners and labour to embrace the concept of 'Industry Family'. This concept, in which industry owners and labours bond as a family, is guided by the principles of efficiency, skill development and upgradation, productivity, appropriate wages and perquisites, and security towards this end. 

The party will:
* Issue identity cards to the unorganized sector labourers, and arrangements will be made to provide them good quality health and education services. Also, their skills will be upgraded through appropriate training programs.

* Extend access to modern financial services to labour - including considering the option of setting up a dedicated Workers Bank.

* Bring together all stakeholders to review our Labour laws which are outdated, complicated and even contradictory.

* Strengthen the Pension and Health Insurance safety nets for all kinds of labourers. Housing - No Longer a Mirage

We will roll out a massive Low cost Housing programme to ensure that by the time the nation 31 completes 75 years of its Independence, every family will have a pucca house of its own. It will be an innovatively designed scheme that dovetails various existing programmes and also encourages the housing sector by appropriate policy interventions and credit availability including interest subventions, where necessary.

Our proposed programme will further ensure that these houses are equipped with the basic facilities of toilet, piped water supply, electricity and proper Access. To do this we will amongst others:

* Prioritize all our resources towards this goal.

* Leverage on land as a resource in urban areas and demand for unskilled labour in the rural areas.

* Innovatively structure the programme to converge and dovetail various existing programmes, while adding the missing links.

* Simultaneously encourage the overall housing sector, through appropriate policy interventions and credit availability and interest subvention schemes.

India Innovates & Leads In Science And Technology

India has been a knowledge economy and has been a leader in science and technology from the ancient times. India now needs policies and programs to reclaim its global leadership position in science and technology. BJP recognizes the need to create an ecosystem for fundamental research and innovation, keeping the objective of science with a human face in the service of the common man. Science and technology has enormous potential to bridge the disparities between the urban and rural India, rich and poor. Scientific education and technology needs to be encouraged, promoted, practiced and leveraged with renewed vision and vigour.

BJP recognizes the central role of science and technology in raising the quality of life of the people of the country, particularly of the disadvantaged sections of society in creating wealth for all, in making India globally competitive, in utilizing natural resources in a sustainable manner, in protecting the environment and ensuring national security. We will also encourage and incentivize private sector investments - both domestic and foreign, in science and technology and in high-end research aimed towards innovation.

BJP's manifesto for 2014 will focus on the following:

* Ensuring food, agricultural, nutritional and environmental, wealth, health and energy security of the people on a sustainable basis, using science and technology.

* Mounting a direct and sustained effort on the alleviation of poverty, enhancing livelihood security, removal of hunger and malnutrition, reduction of drudgery and regional imbalances, both rural and urban, and generation of employment, by using scientific and technological capabilities along with our traditional knowledge pool.

* Encouraging research and innovation in areas of relevance for the economy and society, particularly by promoting close and productive interaction between private and public institutions. Sectors such as agriculture (particularly soil, water management, human and animal nutrition and fisheries), water, health, education, industry, energy including renewable energy, communication and transportation would be accorded highest priority. Leveraging of technologies such as information technology, biotechnology and material sciences would be done with special importance.

* Encouraging research and application to meet the challenges of climate change and for forecasting, prevention and mitigation of natural hazards, particularly floods, cyclones, earthquakes, drought and landslides.

* Promoting international science and technology cooperation towards achieving the goals of national development and security, and making it a key element of our international relations.

* Devise schemes, programs and opportunities to encourage the youth to take scientific research and innovation as a career.

* Provide work environment and professional opportunities in fundamental scientific research, to make research careers more appealing, so that the nation can harness the best of brains for scientific research leading to enhancing the national productivity and competitiveness and reverse brain drain.

* Build world class, regional centres of excellence of scientific research in the field of nanotechnology, material sciences, thorium technology and brain research.

* Create an ecosystem for multi-country and inter-disciplinary collaborative research, and establish an Intellectual Property Rights Regime which maximizes the incentive for generation and protection of intellectual property for all type of inventors.

* Achieving synergy between industry and scientific research. Autonomous technology transfer organizations will be created as associate organizations of universities and national laboratories to transfer the know-how generated by them to industry. Industry will be encouraged to adopt or support educational and research institutions to help direct science and technology endeavours towards tangible industrial goals.

Promotion of innovation by creating a comprehensive national system of innovation. 

Indigenous knowledge, based on our long and rich tradition will be further developed and harnessed for the purpose of wealth and employment generation
*  To promote science popularization schemes extensively.
* Bbring the changes in secondary education to focus on application of science.
* Set an institute of Big data and Analytics for studying the impact of big data across sectors for predictive science.
* To do research for the eradication of tropical diseases.
* Establish institutes of Technology for Rural Development.
* Establish a Central University dedicated to Himalayan Technology.
* Promote research and application of nuclear science in medicines, industry and agriculture.

We believe science and technology should be used to build a new and resurgent India that continues to maintain its strong democratic and spiritual traditions, that remains secure not only militarily but also socially and economically. Our science and technology policy will be framed and implemented so as to be in harmony with our worldview of the large human family. We will ensure that science and technology truly uplifts the Indian people and indeed all humanity.

Increase Access, Improve Quality, Lower Cost Of Healthcare In India

India needs a holistic care system that is universally accessible, affordable and effective and drastically reduces the out of pocket spending on health. NRHM has failed to meet the objectives and will be radically reformed. BJP manifesto for 2014 accords high priority to health sector, which is crucial for securing the economy.

The overarching goal of healthcare would be to provide, 'Health Assurance to all Indians and to reduce the out of pocket spending on health care', with the help of state governments.

The current situation calls for radical reforms in the healthcare system with regards to national healthcare programs and delivery, medical education and training and financing of healthcare. Our government would focus on the following reforms in healthcare:

* The last healthcare policy dates back to 2002. India now needs a comprehensive healthcare policy to address the complex healthcare challenges, keeping in view the developments in the healthcare sector and the changing demographics. BJP will initiate the New Health Policy.

* Initiate the 'National Health Assurance Mission', with a clear mandate to provide universal healthcare that is not only accessible and affordable, but also effective, and reduces the OOP spending for the common man.

* Education and Training - Will review the role of various professional regulatory bodies in healthcare and consider setting up an overarching lean body for healthcare. High priority will be given to address the shortfall of healthcare professionals.

Modernize Government hospitals, upgrading infrastructure and latest technologies. 

Reorganize Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in order to converge various departments dealing

in healthcare, food and nutrition and pharmaceuticals, for effective delivery of healthcare services.

* Increase the number of medical and para-medical colleges to make India self sufficient in human resources, and set up an AIIMS like institute in every state.

* Yoga and Ayurveda are the gifts of ancient Indian civilization to humanity and we will increase the public investment to promote Yoga and AYUSH. We will start integrated courses for Indian System of Medicine (ISM) and modern science and Ayurgenomics. We will set up institutions and launch a vigorous program to standardize and validate the Ayurvedic medicine.

* Move to pre-emptive care model where the focus and thrust will be on child health and prevention.
 * School health program would be a major focus area, and health and hygiene will be made a part of

the school curriculum.

* Focus on Rural Health care delivery.

* Senior Citizens healthcare would be a special focus area.

* Give high priority to chronic diseases, and will invest in research and development of solutions for chronic diseases like obesity, diabetes, cancer, CVD etc.

* Occupational health programs will be pursued aggressively.

* Utilize the ubiquitous platform of mobile phones for healthcare delivery and set up the 'National eHealth Authority' to leverage telemedicine and mobile healthcare for expanding reach and coverage and to define the standards and legal framework for technology driven care.

* Universalization of emergency medical services-108.

* Re-orientation of herbal plants board to encourage farming of herbal plants.

* Population stabilization would be a major thrust area and would be pursued as a mission mode program.

Programme for Women Healthcare with emphasis on rural, SC, ST and OBC in a mission mode. ␣ Mission mode project to eradicate malnutrition.

 Launch National Mosquito Control mission.

Poor Hygiene and Sanitation have a far reaching, cascading impact. We will ensure a 'Swachh Bharat' by Gandhiji's 150th birth anniversary in 2019, taking it up in mission mode by converging resources and building around jan bhagidari

* Create an open defecation free India by awareness campaign and enabling people to build toilets in their home as well as in schools and public places.

Set up modern, scientific sewage and waste management systems.

 We will introduce Sanitation Ratings measuring and ranking our cities and towns on 'sanitation

and rewarding the best performers.

* Make potable drinking water available to all thus reducing water-borne diseases, which will automatically translate into Diarrhoea-free India.

E-Governance: Easy, Efficient and Effective says BJP’s Manifesto

BJP believes that IT is a great enabler for empowerment, equity and efficiency. The NDA Government had made IT one of the major thrust areas. With the result, India is the IT capital for the whole world. But back home, the benefits of IT have not percolated down. This will be a high priority area for BJP that IT touches the lives of ordinary men and women. BJP has been known for good Governance and e- Governance will become the backbone for good Governance. BJP aims to nurture a Digital India - making every household and every individual digitally empowered.

Information Technology has made it possible to make information and services reach to the ordinary men and women even in remote areas, easily and effectively. Availability of information is the key to empowerment of the stakeholders. This also reduces the scope for discretion and manipulation.

BJP will:

* Focus on increasing the penetration and usage of broadband across the country. Deployment of broadband in every village would be a thrust area.

* Leverage technology for e-Governance and engage proactively with the people through social media for participative governance and effective public grievance redressal mechanism.

* Generate IT based jobs in rural and semi-urban areas.

* Make technology enabled products affordable for students.

* Use technology to reduce the burden of books on children. Make all institutions and schools e- enabled in a phased manner. Digital learning and training to be used extensively.

* Pursue a mission mode project under the 'National Rural Internet and Technology Mission' for use of telemedicine and mobile healthcare for rural healthcare delivery; use of IT for agriculture for real time information; Self Help Groups; retail trade and SMEs; and rural entrepreneurs, etc.

* Initiate a National e-Governance Plan to cover every Government office from the centre to the panchayats. The 'E-Gram, Vishwa Gram' scheme in Gujarat to be implemented nationwide.

* Promote e-Bhasha - National Mission for the promotion of IT in Indian Languages.

* Focus to bring SC/ST, OBCs and other weaker sections of the society within the ambit of IT enabled development.

* Deploy IT to protect India's priceless cultural and artistic heritage, which includes digitization of all archives and museology.

* Promote 'open source' and 'open standard' software.

* Mandate digitization of all government work to reduce corruption and delays.

* Set up High-speed digital highways to unite the nation.

* Use technology to reduce Transmission and distribution losses.

* Use mobile and e-Banking to ensure financial inclusion.

BJP aims to make every household digitally literate with a goal to make India the Global Knowledge hub, with IT being a major driver and engine of growth.

Microsoft & Network18 Setup Analytics Centre For India Elections 2014

CNN-IBN and IBN7 (a part of the Network18 conglomerate) have gained a reputation for leadership in election programming, robust analysis and credible & accurate projection of likely outcomes. In a first-of-its-kind partnership in India, the Network has joined hands with technology leader, Microsoft India, to create the CNN-IBN - Microsoft Election Analytics Centre, to power its television and online platforms with election data and analyses.

The center will use Microsoft software and hardware technologies to bring deep analysis, trends and data visualization during the General Elections 2014, to its viewers. The center will also enable CNN-IBN and IBN7 viewers to find, search and engage with election data like never before in India through an 'Indian Election' app, and online platforms such as IBNLive.com, Firstpost.com, Bing.com and others.

Commenting on the partnership, Ajay Chacko, COO, Network18, said, "General Elections 2014 are possibly the most complex electoral exercise ever undertaken. Technologically enabled tools and skills are required to decode, decipher and analyse the subtle nuances of these elections. We are excited about partnering with Microsoft in this context and leveraging their leadership in technology and analytics. We are confident that this will further add to our legacy of credibility and accuracy in elections programming."

* Source: ibnlive.com

India’s Healthcare Spends Among The Lowest: Survey

While the Economic Survey of 2013 claims that India’s GDP has extended its spending on health by 13% the same survey also points out that it has the lowest health spending as a proportion of its GDP. In fact, though the number-crunchers say that we spend 4.1% of our GDP on health the fact is that 70% of it is from people’s own pockets or private spending meaning that the government spends barely 1% on health. Even the private plus government spending is abysmally low compared to other nations. Both Brazil and South Africa spend around 9% and only Indonesia spends lesser than India among the 11 countries surveyed.

Comparison with other countries

Healthcare economics across the world can be broadly divided into two categories – capitalistic (like the United States) or socialist (UK and rest of Europe). In the first category, most healthcare resources are owned by private entities and in the second the state owns the resources, taxes the citizens and provides them healthcare. There’s ample evidence to provide that the second system works better because even though the US spends more per cent GDP on healthcare than any other country, the facilities aren’t available to all, whereas UK’s National Health Service or France’s system which was deemed by WHO in 2000 to be best in the world. The success of the latter is based on the fact that most European countries have universal healthcare despite spending less than the USA (USA – 15.2%, France – 11.2%, UK – 8.4%).

In comparison, India’s healthcare system is far worse. The private sector spends in India is more than double that of the government spends (a trend unique to India) which suggests that it’s the absence of government healthcare which forces individuals to spend money out-of-pocket. This hurts people even more and it’s estimated that health spends forces 39 million people each year into poverty. The latest figures from the UN suggest that India still accounts for one of every three maternal death. Most of them are due to complications like severe bleeding after childbirth, infections, high BP during pregnancy and unsafe abortions. As per latest UN figures, India accounts for one-third of deaths of pregnant women, mainly due to complications such as severe bleeding after childbirth, infections, high blood pressure during pregnancy and unsafe abortion.

Slimmest Phone Gionee S5.5 Launched In India

Gionee launched the slimmest handset in India, Gionee S5.5. The smartphone is just 5.5mm thick and replaced Vivo X3 at 5.75mm thickness to be the slimmest beauty in town. Unveiled at MWC 2014 in Barcelona, Gionee Elife S5.5 was launched initially in China and then in India. The phone is an economically priced device and caters to the mid-range segment.

Clearly, with the focus on slimness, Gionee Elife S5.5 gives equal importance to beauty as brains. The phone is a sleek stunner in a metal casing with a glass body. The design is slightly different than the run-of-the mill blocks and even the bezels have a slightly designed finish to give the phone a completely unique look.

Running on Android Jelly Bean version 4.2, Gionee Elife S5.5 runs on the Android platform with the Gionee Amigo UI on top. While the OS is a slight disappointment, we guess Gionee will soon roll out an upgrade for the device with Jelly Bean 4.3 if not KitKat.

The display is definitely one of the best in its class with a 5-inch super-AMOLED LECD touch-screen . The full HD display boasts of 441ppi. Gionee has managed to balance power and looks with the Gionee Elife S5.5. Apart from the display, the 1.7GHz octa-core processor equally impresses. The RAM at 2GB is the same as most flagships in the market.

While the OS was a major let-down when it comes to Gionee Elife S5.5, another disappointment is the lack of a memory card slot. Most phone-makers are sticking to internal memory these days but it definitely restricts the user in terms of storage and expandable memory. Also, while flagships often come with multiple internal memory variants, Gionee Elife S5.5 comes in just one internal memory variant, the 16 GB one.