NEWS

The Bihar cabinet on Tuesday approved a proposal to provide free coronavirus vaccination to people of the state whenever the vaccine is available in the country. In another major development, the cabinet also gave a green signal to a proposal to create 20 lakh job opportunities in both government and non-government sectors for youth.

Free Covid vaccination for all and 19 lakh new jobs for youth in next five years were among some promises made by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to Bihar residents in its manifesto or 'Sankalp Patra' during the state assembly elections.

The BJP, in its poll manifesto, had promised that if it returned to power in Bihar, the party would be providing free Covid-19 vaccine to every individual in the state.

In view of the ongoing farmers’ agitation, the Haryana government has called off its chintan shivir (brainstorming session), scheduled to start in Chandigarh on Tuesday.

The conclave on governance issues was initially a three-day affair but was planned to be extended for another four days.

A meeting of deputy commissioners and superintendents of police was also scheduled for December 17.

Wistron Infocomm Manufacturing India Pvt Ltd has said it suffered losses worth Rs 437.70 crore in the violence where a section of workers went on a rampage at its facility manufacturing Apple iPhones and other products in Bengaluru's Narasapura area over non-payment of promised wages.

According to the complaint by Wistron company executive Prashanth TD, office equipment, mobile phones, production machinery and related gadgets worth Rs 412.5 crore was lost. Infrastructure worth Rs 10 crore, Rs 60 lakh worth cars and golf carts, smartphones and other gadgets worth Rs 1.5 crore were among those that were damaged, were stolen or lost.

He stated in his complaint that 5,000 contract labourers and about 2,000 unknown culprits carried out the vandalism in the facility. According to police, a clear picture regarding the total loss will emerge only after assessment by the insurance company.

A state in northern India is scheduled to reopen universities and colleges in the state from Tuesday after 10 months, amid COVID-19. The decision to open colleges and universities from December 15 was taken in the state cabinet meeting held on December 9 (Wednesday). 

The Uttarakhand Education Department Chief Secretary Om Prakash on December 12 (Saturday) released the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for the reopening of educational institutions. The SOP stated that the students have to undergo the RTPCR test before coming to classes and the college managements are also mandated to take written consent of the parents before allowing students in their premises.

Colleges will be opened with 50 per cent capacity and the students pursuing courses that have practical subjects can be called for classes in the first phase. Theory studies can be done online. The order maintains that classes can only be held for the students in either the first or the last semester.