New stamps from India

Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis

Date of Issue : 30 December 2015

Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis (IDSA), New Delhi, India is an Indian think tank for advanced research in international relations, especially strategic and security issues, and also trains civilian and military officers of the Government of India. It is a non-partisan and autonomous body. It deals with objective research and policy relating to all aspects of defense and security. Its primary goal is creation and distribution of defence and security-related knowledge, thereby promoting both national and international security.

Alagumuthu Kone 

Date of Issue : 26 December 2015

A Commemorative Stamp on freedom fighter Alagumuthu Kone was released by Hon'ble Minister for Communications and IT Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad at Madurai on 26th December 2015.

Veeran Azhagu Muthu Kone (1681-1739), also known as Alagumuthu Konar, was a Tamil Konar warrior and one of the early freedom fighters to arouse public consciousness against foreign rule in Tiruneveli region. He is regarded for having raised one of the first revolts against the British in India. 

Sumitranandan Pant

Date of Issue : 23 December 2015

A Commemorative stamp was released in memory of renowned Hindi Poet Sumitranandan Pant by Uttarakhand Governor Shri Krishna Kant Paul at a function held at Raj Bhawan, Dehradun on 23rd December 2015 in presence of Uttarakhand Chief Post Master General Shri Uday Krishna.

Sumitranandan Pant (b. May 20, 1900 – d. December 28, 1977) was born in Kausani village of Almora District, Uttarakhand, was one of the most famous modern Hindi poets and considered one of the major poets of the Chhayavaadi school of Hindi literature.

Sumitranandan Pant was the first Hindi poet to receive the Jnanpith Award, in 1968. He did so for a collection of his most famous poems, titled Chidambara. He was awarded the Nehru Peace Prize by the Soviet Union for Lokayatan. Pant received "Sahitya Kala Academy" award for "Kala Aur Budhdha Chand". The Indian Government honored him with Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan. Sumitranandan Pant composed the Kulgeet of IIT Roorkee, "Jayati Jayati Vidya Sansthan". He died on December 28, 1977, at Rajamundry, Andhra Pradesh.

Courtesy - Stamps of India, Indian Philately Digest

New Stamps from India

 

Zoological Survey of India

Date of Issue : 3 December 2015

The Zoological Survey of India is celebrating its 100 years this year. On this occasion Minister of C&IT, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad released Commemorative stamps and Miniature Sheet on Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) at the function held at Conference Hall, National Media Centre, Raisina Road, New Delhi on 3rd December 2015. Set of two stamps is in denomination of Rs. 5 and Rs. 25. The Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (Independent Charge), Shri Prakash Javadekar, Mrs Kavery Banerjee, Secretary, Department of Posts and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.

The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) was established on 1st July, 1916 to promote survey, exploration and research leading to the advancement in our knowledge of various aspects of exceptionally rich life of the erstwhile ´British Indian Empire´. The survey has its genesis in the establishment of the Zoological Section of the Indian Museum at Calcutta in 1875. By gradually strengthening its staff and expanding its research programme, the Survey has met the challenge of the past and is on its way to meet the demands of the future. It has maintained its primary objectives unchanged from its inception.

Initially, the Survey acquired the Zoological collections of more than a century old from former Museum (1814 -1875) of the Asiatic Society of Bengal and Zoological Section of the Indian Museum (1875-1916) in Calcutta. With the increasing interest in the life sciences and with the advent of country´s Five Year Plans, the expansion programme of the survey was initiated. The Survey has established so far 16 Regional and Field Stations, and has developed into a major National Institution. It functions as the guardian of the National Zoological Collections, containing over a million identified specimens from all animal groups ranging from Protozoa to Mammals. Extensive and intensive field explorations are undertaken by the Survey in different parts of the country for the studies of fauna, systematic zoology, animal ecology, wildlife and zoogeography, animal behavior, animal population and also marine fauna and the results of the explorations and research are published in its own journals as well as National and International periodicals of repute regularly.

Courtesy – Stamps of India,  Indian Philately Digest

 

New Special Cover

A special cover and special cancellation released at Jaipur on 30th Nov. 2015 on a famous Jain personality Late Vinaysagar Ji. Jaipur Philatelic Society and Prakrit Bharti Academy Jaipur jointly organized a function at Prakrit Bharti Academy, Malviya Nagar, Jaipur.

On this occasion a special cover was released in Honor of Sahitya Vachaspati Mahopaddhya Shri Vinay Sagarji on his first death Anniversary. Special Cover was released by Devarshi Kala Nath Shastri and Acharya Narain Shastriji.

- Sudhir Jain, Satna ( MP)

New Stamps from India

 

Singapore – India Joint Stamp Issue

Official Residence of the President

Date of Issue : 24 November 2014

The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi and the Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Hsien Loong jointly releasing the India Singapore stamps, in Istana, Singapore on November 24, 2015.

 

Engineering Export Promotion Council of India  

Date of Issue : 24 November  2015

A commemorative Stamp on Engineering Export Promotion Council of India (EEPC India) was released on 24th November 2015.

EEPC India is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. To mark the Diamond Jubilee of Engineering Export Promotion Council of India, a commemorative stamp was released by Shri Ravi Capoor, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Commerce & Industry at India Engineering Sourcing Show – 2015 held at Bombay Exhibition Centre in Mumbai on 24th November 2015. India Engineering Sourcing Show – 2015 (IESS15) is India’s largest international engineering sourcing show organised by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, with EEPC India as the lead agency.

Courtesy : Madhukar Jhingan, Prashant Pandya

New Special Cover

Boudhpex-2015, Boudh District Level Philatelic Exhibition at Boudh, Odisha – 18th – 19th November 2015.

The first District level Philatelic Exhibition of Boudh District was held on 18-19, November, 2015 in the name of BOUDHPEX-2015. The exhibition was inaugurated by Shri Jaleswar Kanhar, PMG, Sambalpur on 18.11.2015. Shri Madhusudan Mishra, Collector, Boudh and Smt. Kalpana Rajsinghot, PMG, Berhampr were among the other distinguished guests present. One special cover on ‘Chari Sambhu’ Temple along with two Booklets on Dr.APJ Abdul Kalam and Women Empowerment were released during the inaugural function. In the concluding day (19.11.2015) one special cover on Traditional Art and Culture of Kandhamal was released by the CPMG, Odisha Circle Shri Tilak De. One more Booklet on Valour of Sacrifice-1965 War and a Picture Postcard on Konark Temple were also released on 19.11.2015. Smt. Kalpana Rajsinhot, PMG, Berhampur was also presen during the concluding function.

“Chari Sambhu Temple is located at the bank of river Mahanadi in Gandharadi village of Boudh District. It is famous for twin temples of Nilamadhab and Sidheswar. These temple were constructed under the patronage of Bhanja Rulers of Khinjali Mandala in 9th century A.D. These two temples were built on one platform which are exactly similar to each other.The one on the left hand is dedicated to Lord Siva and named as Siddheswar. The second one is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and named as Nilamadhab.”

“ The dances, fairs, festivals, traditional costumes of Kandhamal district has the imprint of rich cultural heritage. ‘Dangda-Dhangedi’ dance of Kndhmal is otherwise known as Loar-Enda and is performed by the ‘Kutia and ‘Kandha’ Tribes. ‘Dadra’ is the ‘tal’ of the song’ where as Drums and flutes are the major musical instrument used in the dance.”

- Ajit Dash, Bhubaneshwar

New stamps from India

 

Children’s Day  - 14 November 2015

India Post released a set of two stamps in denomination of Rs 5 & Rs 25 and a Miniature sheet on the occasion of Children’s Day.

Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. - 16 November 2016

India Post released another  stamp on 16th November Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited.

Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), owned by the Government of India, is a power plant equipment manufacturer and operates as an engineering and manufacturing company based in New Delhi, India. Established in 1964, BHEL is India's largest engineering and manufacturing company of its kind. The company has been earning profits continuously since 1971-72 and paying dividends uninterruptedly since 1976-77.

Image courtesy –  Madhukar Jhingan : Stamps of India

New Stamp from India - Border Security Force

Border Security Force

Date of Issue : 21 October 2015

Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh  released a commemorative stamp in denomination of Rs. 5 to mark 50 years of raising of country's largest border guarding force BSF at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on 21st October 2015.

The Border Security Force (BSF) is the primary Border Guarding police force of India. It is one of the five Central Armed Police Forces of the Union of India. Till 1965 India’s borders with Pakistan were manned by the State Armed Police Battalion. Pakistan attacked Sardar Post, Chhar Bet and Beria Bet on 9 April, 1965 in Kutch. This exposed the inadequacy of the State Armed Police to cope with armed aggression due to which the Government of India felt the need for a specialized centrally controlled Border Security Force, which would be armed and trained to man the International Border with Pakistan. As a result of the recommendations of the Committee of Secretaries, the Border Security Force came into existence on 1st December 1965, and Shri K. F. Rustamji was the first chief and founding father. 

The BSF is a Central Armed Police Force charged with guarding India's land border during peace time and preventing transnational crime. It is a Union Government Agency under the administrative control of Ministry of Home Affairs. The BSF has its own cadre of officers but its head, designated as a Director-General (DG), since its raising has been an officer from the Indian Police Service. It is an Armed Force of the Union of India tasked with various assignments from time to time. The BSF has grown exponentially from a few battalions in 1965, to 186 battalions with strength of 2.5 lakh personnel including an expanding air wing, marine wing, artillery regiments, and commando units. It currently stands as the world's largest border guarding force. BSF has been termed as the First Wall of Defence of Indian Territories.

Courtesy - Indian Philately Digest

New stamps from India - Charkha

 

Date of Issue : 15 October 2015

On 15th October 2015, India Post released two postage stamps in denomination of Rs. 5 each  and a miniature sheet featuring Gandhi Ji and Charkha.The stamps shows two popular types of Charkha, Peti charkha and Bardoli charkha whereas  the miniature sheet depicts Gandhi ji with Charkha.

 

The Charkha or spinning wheel is a device for spinning thread or yarn from natural or synthetic fibres. Spinning wheels appeared in Asia, probably in the 11th century, and very gradually replaced hand spinning with spindle and distaff. The earliest clear illustrations of the spinning wheel come from Baghdad (drawn in 1234), China (c. 1270) and Europe (c. 1280), and there is evidence that spinning wheels had already come into use in both China and the Islamic world during the eleventh century.

The charkha, or spinning wheel, was the physical embodiment and symbol of Gandhi’s constructive program. It represents Swadeshi, self-sufficiency, and at the same time interdependence, because the wheel is at the center of a network of cotton growers, carders, weavers, distributors, and users. It also embodied the dignity of labor, equality, unity, as all volunteers were to spin each day, and finally independence, as British control of India was rooted in control of indigenous industries such as textiles. The tabletop or floor charkha is one of the oldest known forms of the spinning wheel. The charkha works similarly to the great wheel, with a drive wheel being turned by hand, while the yarn is spun off the tip of the spindle. The floor charkha and the great wheel closely resemble each other. With both, the spinning must stop in order to wind the yarn onto the spindle.

Courtesy – Indian Philately Digest

New Stamp from India

 

Dr APJ Abdul Kalam

Date of Issue : 15 October 2015

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi released the commemorative stamp on the former President of India, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, on his 84th birth anniversary celebrations, at DRDO Bhawan, in New Delhi on 15th October, 2015. The Union Ministers, Shri Manohar Parrikar, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad and Dr. Harsh Vardhan were also present on the occasion.

Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen "A. P. J." Abdul Kalam (b. 15 October 1931 – d. 27 July 2015) was the 11th President of India from 2002 to 2007. Kalam was born and raised in Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu, and studied physics and aerospace engineering. He spent the next four decades as a scientist and science administrator, mainly at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and was intimately involved in India's civilian space program and military missile development efforts. He thus came to be known as the Missile Man of India for his work on the development of ballistic missile and launch vehicle technology. He also played a pivotal organizational, technical, and political role in India's Pokhran-II nuclear tests in 1998, the first since the original nuclear test by India in 1974.

Kalam was elected as the 11th President of India in 2002. Widely referred to as the "People's President," he returned to his civilian life of education, writing and public service after a single term. He was a recipient of several prestigious awards, including the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour. While delivering a lecture at the Indian Institute of Management, Shillong, Kalam collapsed and died from an apparent cardiac arrest on 27 July 2015, aged 83.

New Special Covers

 

Special Cover on KSIC, Mysore Silk Centenary Celebrations – 15th October 2015

To commemorate Centenary celebrations of KSIC, Mysore Silk a Special Cover was released at Bangalore on 15th October 2015 (Special Cover approval no. KTK/50/2015).

Mysore is rich for its Royal heritage and Grandeur and it is no surprise that the silk produced there reflect the traditional splendor through its rich yet delicate motifs. The name Mysore silk is a befitting tribute to its ancestry. The silk weaving factory in Mysore, presently owned by KSIC, was established in the year 1912 by the Maharaja of Mysore province. Initially the silk fabrics were manufactured & supplied to meet the requirements of the royal family and ornamental fabrics to their armed forces. The unit was started with 10 looms and gradually increased to 44 looms over a period. The looms and preparatory machines were imported from Switzerland and was the first of its kind in India. After India gained Independence the Mysore state Sericulture Dept. took control of the silk weaving factory.

In 1980 the Silk weaving factory was handed over to Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation Ltd., a Govt. of Karnataka enterprise and is popularly known as KSIC. KSIC is the only organization in the country commanding the entire gamut of silk production right from reeling of cocoons to the weaving of pure silk fabric of various shades and designs, all under one roof. KSIC uses high quality pure natural silk and 100% pure gold zari. The zari never tarnish and will look fresh even over a long period of usage. KSIC is the only organization to give guarantee for its zari saree in the form of embroidered code No. which is unique to each saree.

Special Cover on Asian Mycological Congress 2015 – 7th October 2015.

A Special Cover was released to mark the occasion by Shri Laxmikant Parsekar, Chief Minister of Goa at the Goa University on 7th October 2015. On the occasion a philatelic exhibition on mycological species was presented by Dr. Bernard Rodrigues, Professor, Department of Botany, Goa University who is also an avid philatelist.

The Asian Mycological Congress is a major biennial event that brings together mycologists from all over Asia and fosters learning, dissemination and promotion of mycology. AMC 2015 will cover advances in all aspects of mycology. The Congress was held under the aegis of the Asian Mycological Association and the Mycological Society of India and organized by the Goa University from 7th to 10th October 2015.

Over 250 delegates attended the Asian Mycological Congress 2015 and of which 67 were from various Asian countries such as Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia, Iran and Viet Nam. More than 20 Japanese delegates, including several senior scientists and young researchers came to Goa and attended the AMC 2015. In addition, mycologists from UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand and Germany participated and delivered lead lectures in the Congress.

Courtesy -  Indian Philately Digest

Club News

New Philatelic Publication

 India 1929 Air Mail Stamps: A Study of Constant Varieties

by Rohit Prasad

Stamps of India is pleased to announce the publication of its new book India 1929 Air Mail Stamps: A Study of Constant Varieties; a new path-breaking work by Rohit Prasad

The book is the result of 6 years of painstaking study and documents 106 CONSTANT varieties identified in India’s first Air Mail stamps, while the Stanley Gibbons catalogues only 3 varieties.

India 1929 Air Mail Stamps: A Study of Constant Varieties is A4 all color art paper, hardbound having 300 Pages. It is being brought out as Limited edition of 500 copies and will be available on October 17, 2015.

The book is Published & Distributed worldwide by Stamps of India Private Limited for

Rs 5,000 post-paid in India, and USD 100 post-paid worldwide.

According to Rohit Prasad “It gives me immense pleasure to share my study on the India 1929 Air Mail Stamps and I hope other collectors would benefit from this. I look forward to their inputs so that they can be incorporated in the further editions of the book.”

Contact : Madhukar Jhingan : Ph. 919811160965 : Email : mj@stampsofindia.com

Stamp Exhibition

SCHOOLPEX 2015

Join Philatelic society of Rajasthan  at St Xavier's School Jaipur for  Schoolpex 2015 . Exhibition A stamp booklet on late Dr APJ Kalam was released. There is  India Post Counter and MY Stamp Counter from where pppstamp collectors can get stamps of their choice . Stamp dealers from Delhi , Kanpur , Ajmer and Jaipur  have put their stalls here. There are over 150 entries from 14 schools.

 

New stamp from India

 

Mahant Avaidyanath

Date of Issue - 1 October 2015

India Post issued today a commemorative stamp on Mahant  Avaidyanath. The Union Minister for Communications & Information Technology, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad released the Commemorative Stamp on Mahant  Avaidyanath at a function held at Gorakhpur this morning.

 

 

Courtesy – Ashwani Dubey, Gorakhpur

 

Courtesy - Sandeep Chaurasia – Gorakhpur

New stamp from India

 

Commemoratives Postal Stamp on Dr. B.R. Ambedkar released

 

Date of Issue : 30 September 2015

The Union Minister for Communications & Information Technology, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad released the Commemorative Stamp on Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s 125th Birth Anniversary Year, in New Delhi on 30th September, 2015. The Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri Thaawar Chand Gehlot and the Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment, Shri Vijay Sampla were also present on the occasion.

Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar (b. 14 April 1891 – 6 December 1956), popularly known as Babasaheb Ambedkar, was one of the architects of the Indian Constitution. He was born to Bhimabai Sakpal and Ramji on 14 April 1891 in Madhya Pradesh.

Babasaheb was a well-known politician, economist, social reformer and an eminent jurist. Ambedkar's efforts to eradicate the social evils like untouchablity and caste restrictions were remarkable. The leader, throughout his life, fought for the rights of the dalits and other socially backward classes. Ambedkar was appointed as the nation's first Law Minister in the Cabinet of Jawaharlal Nehru. Bhimrao Ambedkar was appointed as the chairman of the constitution drafting committee. Ambedkar emphasized on the construction of a virtual bridge between the classes of the society. According to him, it would be difficult to maintain the unity of the country if the difference among the classes were not met. He was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honor in 1990.

Courtesy-Indian Philately Digest

New stamp from India

 

50th Anniversary of 1965 War

Date of Issue – 15 September 2015

 

Minister of Communication & IT Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad released commemorative stamps to mark the 50th Anniversary of 1965 War.

Cover Image courtesy – Stamps of India

Club News

Philatelic Journals issued Recently..

  

Vadophil : Editor – Prashant Pandya email : edesk@prashantpandya.com

Journal of The Army Philatelic Society : Editor – Col Jayant Dutta email : doctorjayanta2009@gmail.com

ITS Stamp News – Editor – Suraj Jaitly : indianthematicsociety@gmail.com

Rainbow Stamp News – Editor - Jeevam Jyoti : j.jyoti9@gmail.com

 

Regional level Drawing and Quiz Competition at Gorakhpur

Department of Post Gorakhpur range organized the Drawing competition and divisional level  Quiz competition  on 06-09-15 and further Regional level Quiz competition on 13-09-15.The winner of these competition will participate in 1st Zonal level Philately exhibition UTTARPEX organized by UP & Uttarakhand on 29.30.31 Oct & 1 Nov.2015.

The winner of Drawing Competition are as follows -

Basic Class (1 to 5)

1st-Km.Sagarika Verma   Class 3rd ,SVM Public School, Gorakhpur

2nd-Pravesh Agrawal    Class  3rd St.Joseph School,   Gorakhpur

3rd-Km Pragati Patil      Class 3rd, St.Joseph School Gorakhpur

Junior Class (6 to 8 )

1st-Km.Akansha Yadaw  Class 8th,G.N.National Public School,Gorakhpur

2nd-Km.Ankita Gupta      class 8th,Carmel Girls Inter college,Gorakhpur

3r-Mr.Sagar Chowdhary   class 8th,M.P.Inter College,Gorakhpur

Senior Class (9 to 12)

1st-Km.Pooja Chaurasia   Class 12th,Jawahar Navodya Gorakhpur

2nd-Km.Swati Singh         Class 11th,Carmel Girls Inter College,Gorakhpur

3rd-Km.Juhi Shukla          Class 10th, Jawahar Navodaya,Gorakhpur

The winner of Quiz Competition

1st- Mr.Gaurav  Nanadan Tripathi   Class 11th,G.N.Natioanl Public                                                                                            School,Gorakhpur

2nd-Mr.Siyva Prakash Yadaw         Class 8th  Jawahar Navodaya                                                                                           Vidalaya,Gorakhpur

Jury member of the Competition were Sandeep Chaurasia,Philatelist,Himanshu Singh,Philatelist ,Raman Kumar Mandal,Philatelist and Sri.Sanjay Kumar Tripathi Astt.Supdt.(Vig) Deptt of post.

New Stamp from India

 

10th World Hindi Conference 

Date of Issue : 10 September 2015

The 10th World Hindi Conference was inaugurated by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 10th September 2015 at Bhopal and on the occasion he released a commemorative stamp on 10th World Hindi Conference in presence of Minister of Communications and Information Technology Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, Minister of External Affairs Smt. Sushma Swaraj and other dignitaries.

The 10th World Hindi Conference (WHC) is being organized from 10-12 September 2015 in the city of Bhopal at Lal Parade Ground by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India in partnership with the Government of Madhya Pradesh. The decision to organize the 10th edition of the Conference in India was taken at the 9th World Hindi Conference held in Johannesburg, South Africa in September 2012.

 

The tradition of the World Hindi Conferences began with the first conference having been organized in Nagpur and inaugurated on 10th January, 1975 by Smt. Indira Gandhi, the Prime Minister of India. A commemorative stamp was released on this occasion. Since then, these conferences have achieved a global profile and momentum of their own. The subsequent World Hindi Conferences were organized in different countries, namely, twice in India (Nagpur: 10-12 January, 1975 and New Delhi: 28-30 October, 1983), twice in Mauritius (Both in Port Louis: 28-30 August, 1976 and 02-04 December, 1993), Trinidad and Tobago (Port of Spain: 04-08 April, 1996), UK (London: 14-18 September, 1999), Suriname (Paramaribo: 06-09 June, 2003), USA (New York: 13-15 July, 2007) and South Africa (Johannesburg: 22-24 September, 2012).

The objective of the World Hindi Conference is the promotion of Hindi globally as a world language. Hindi in its different forms is spoken in a large number of countries that extend across the globe, from countries with small Hindi speaking communities to countries where a substantial minority of the population speak Hindi such as Mauritius, Suriname, Fiji etc. Hindi is not restricted to people of Indian origin; there have been many eminent scholars of Hindi based in Europe who have contributed to the study of the language. World Hindi conferences aim at recognition of Hindi as a language of not only literature but also a language that is capable of adapting itself to modern science and technology.

Courtesy – Indian Philately Digest

New Stamp from India - Women Empowerment

 Women Empowerment

Date of release : 2 September 2015

Minister of Communication & IT Mr Ravi Shankar Prasad released commemorative stamps  on “Women Empowerment” in New Delhi on Wednesday 2nd September 2015. 

Empowering women to participate fully in economic life across all sectors is essential to build stronger economies, achieve internationally agreed goals for development and sustainability, and improve the quality of life for women, men, families and communities. United Nations Development Program (UNDP) focuses on gender equality and women’s empowerment not only in term of human rights, but also because they are a pathway to achieving the Millennium Development Goals and sustainable development. 

The principle of gender equality is enshrined in the Indian Constitution in its Preamble, Fundamental Rights, Fundamental Duties and Directive principles. The Constitution not only grants equality to women but also empower the State to adopt measure of positive discrimination in favour of women. 

Within the framework of a democratic polity, our laws, development policies, plans and programmes, have aimed at women’s advancement in different spheres. The National Commission for Women was set up by an Act of Parliament in 1990 to safeguard the rights and legal entitlements of women. The 73rd and 74th Amendments (1993) to the Constitution of India have provided for reservation of seats in the local bodies of Panchayats and Municipalities for women, laying a strong foundation for their participation in decision making at the local levels. 

Even though the women’s movement and a wide-spread network of non- Government Organizations, which have strong grass-roots presence and deep insight into women’s concerns, have contributed towards inspiring initiatives for the empowerment of women, there still exist a wide gap between the goals enunciated in the Constitution, legislation, policies plans, programmes, and related mechanisms on the one hand and the situational reality of the status of women in India, on the other. 

A holistic approach to women’s health which includes both nutrition and health services requires to be pursued where attention needs to be given to the needs of women and the girl at all stages of the life. The reduction of infant mortality and maternal mortality, which are sensitive indicators of human development, continues to be a priority concern. 

The Department of posts organized a nation-wide competition inviting entries for the designs of commemorative postage stamps on the theme “Women Empowerment”. Based on selected entries, a set of four stamps and a miniature sheet on the theme was released by Hon’ble Minister of Communication & Information Technology Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad on 2nd September 2015

Courtesy - PIB

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