India attends NAM Health Minister meet

On May 20, 2020, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan attended Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) through video conference.

Highlights

The NAM summit was chaired by the Health Minister of Azerbaijan Ogtay Shiraliyev. India at the summit, highlighted its contribution such as medical supplies to over 123 countries. This includes 59 NAM countries as well.

The minister at the meet highlighted different health measures of India. He also stressed on the fact that India follows the policy of mass isolation, micro identification and quick treatment. India is now operating 10,000 COVID-19 dedicated hospitals.

NAM Summit

The Non-Aligned Movement is a major bloc after United Nations. In 1955, the principles of the movement was framed at the Bandung Conference. NAM was established in 1961. The initiative to begin NAM was led by the then Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Yogoslav President Josip Broz Tito and Eqyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser.

There are around 120 member countries that are part of NAM. NAM focuses on struggle against colonialism, imperialism, neo-colonialism and racism.

Principles of NAM

The five main principles of NAM include mutual non-aggression, mutual respect for each other territories, equality and mutual benefit, mutual non-interference in domestic affairs and peaceful coexistence.

Background

The Non-Aligned Movement was started to thaw out Cold war. The cold war was the geopolitical tension between the US and Soviet Union.

Month: Current Affairs - May, 2020