Vir Das becomes first Indian to host 2024 International Emmy awards ceremony
New Delhi: Actor-comedian Vir Das has been announced as the host for the 52nd edition of the International Emmy Awards, making him the first Indian to emcee the event held annually in the US. The ceremony will be held in New York City on November 25.
It marks Das’ return to the International Emmy stage after he won the best comedy award for his ‘Netflix’ stand-up special ‘Vir Das: Landing’ in 2023. The actor-comedian, also known for films such as ‘Go Goa Gone’ and ‘Delhi Belly’, said that he looks forward to celebrating the remarkable achievements of ‘peers and bringing a touch of humour and joy to this prestigious night’.
“Returning to the International Emmy Awards, this time as the host is a deeply personal and exhilarating moment for me. The Emmys have always been a beacon of excellence and a celebration of diverse stories from around the world. Having won an ‘Emmy’ last year for ‘Landing’, I feel a profound connection to this event and am incredibly honoured to play a central role in it,” Das said.
Organised by the New York-based ‘International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences’ (IATAS), the International Emmys are presented in recognition of the best television programs produced and aired outside the United States.
“We’re delighted to welcome back Vir Das to our stage and to add International Emmy Host to his impressive list of talents,” Bruce L Paisner, IATAS President and CEO, said.
“With his unique humour and perspective on the world, he now joins a distinguished group of gala hosts over the years who fit in perfectly with our global audience,” he added.
At the 2023 International Emmys, Das shared the trophy with the popular British teen sitcom ‘Derry Girls’ season three. It was his second nomination and maiden win in the segment. His previous stand-up special ‘Vir Das: For India’ was nominated for an International Emmy in the best comedy category in 2021.
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Maharashtra sets up state vaccination task force to strengthen immunisation programme
Mumbai (PTI): The Maharashtra government has set up a State Vaccination Task Force to strengthen the regular immunisation programme and review the progress of related campaigns, a health department official said on Monday.
The State Vaccination Task Force will comprise at least 29 members and will be headed by the administrative head of the health department, he informed.
The government has also constituted separate district-level and municipal vaccination task forces to improve implementation and address challenges at the grassroots level, he said.
Municipal task forces, chaired by respective civic commissioners, have been constituted in view of the vast urban population in Maharashtra and the role of civic bodies in implementing different health programmes.
The district-level task forces will function under the chairmanship of collectors.
"Complete immunisation of children at the appropriate age is an extremely simple, cost-effective and highly effective measure to reduce child mortality and the prevalence of diseases among kids. Immunisation is a powerful tool for reducing illness in children," maintained the official.
To ensure full vaccination of all children, the state government implements various campaigns from time to time as per the central government guidelines, he pointed out.
"Active participation and cooperation of other relevant government departments are essential (in making these campaigns successful)," according to the official.
The state-level body will review the regular immunisation programme, associated campaigns and vaccine-preventable diseases in detail. It will also conduct focused assessments of high-risk districts and municipal corporations, including vacancies at district, municipal and sub-district levels, availability of cold chain equipment, resource gaps and training requirements, he noted.
The state task force will review allocation and utilisation of funds for immunisation and ensure timely action by officers concerned based on reports from district and municipal task forces and state-level monitoring mechanisms, the official said.
It will also ensure active coordination and participation of other government departments in immunisation drives, while district and municipal task forces will carry out similar functions at their respective levels, the official added.
