The Paryatan Parv will have three main components:
Dekho Apna Desh: To encourage Indians to visit their own country.It will include video, photograph and blog competitions visited during event, stories of India through Travelers’ Eyes to promote travel to J&K and North Eastern States.
Tourism for All: Tourism Events at sites across all States in the country. This will be mainly people’s event.
Tourism & Governance: Interactive Sessions & Workshops with Stakeholders on varied themes – such as Skill Development in Tourism Sector, Innovation in Tourism etc. – will be conducted.
The Supreme Court, in a landmark judgement, has criminalised sex with a minor wife aged between 15 and 18 years, saying the exception in the rape law was arbitrary and violative of the constitution.
Section 375 of the IPC, which defines the offence of rape, has an exception clause that says intercourse or sexual acts by a man with his wife, not below 15 years, is not rape.
Key Highlights
The judgement said that the age of marriage was 18 in all laws and the exception given in the rape law under the IPC is “capricious, arbitrary and violates the rights of a girl child”. It is violative of Article 14, 15 and 21 of the constitution.
It asked the Centre and states to take proactive steps to prohibit child marriage across the country, and voiced concern over thousands of minor girls being married in mass wedding ceremonies on the occasion ofAkshaya Tritiya.
Analysis
The exception to Section 375 of the IPC was defeating the purpose of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act and was also in violation of international conventions to which India was a signatory.
Young girls in the age group below 18 are still developing physically and mentally. They may not be in a position to make informed decisions and choices regarding their health and well-being.
In this context, this ruling is being termed as a positive judgement which would strengthen India’s fight against child marriage.
India Water Week 2017
President Shri Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated the fifth edition of India Water Week 2017 in New Delhi on October 10.
India Water Week is an annual International forum where the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Government of India discusses key strategies with eminent stakeholders for conservation, preservation and optimum use of available water.
India Water Week is being organizedsince 2012 as an annual international event.
The theme of India Water Week – 2017 is “Water and Energy for Inclusive Growth.”
It was celebrated with a multi-disciplinary conference and a concurrently running exhibition enriching the theme and showcasing the technologies and solutions available for the areas under deliberation of the meet.
The event had the following major components: Water, Food and Energy Security – Essential requirement for sustainable development; Water for inclusive Growth; Sustainable energy development – Key for all round economic growth; and Water and Society.
