ARCHIVES

GS-2

Birth certificates and AADHAR Cards to street children

(Topic: Women and child development)

About- Minister of Women and Child Development, held Regional consultations with Civil Society Organizations on the draft ‘Trafficking of Persons Bill, 2016’ in Chennai

Suggestion come forward-

• Timelines for repatriation of trafficked victims should be included in the Act itself.
• Begging is an important area where trafficking is rampant and should be taken up seriously under the Act.

Project Abhayam-

• Abhayam is an initiative of the NGO Dayaa Foundation.
• Purpose- For safety, rescue and rehabilitation of children in the city of Chennai.
• Establish a Citizen Council for child safety— initiative of bringing citizens together for protecting children

Steps taken by WCD Ministry-

• It will be starting a new initiative for providing birth certificates and AADHAR Cards to street children— will help street children obtain an identity for their future use to move ahead in life.
• Measures being taken by Government for safety, protection and care of children—
  • Children’s helpline i.e. Childline,
  • Initiative with railways on missing children,
  • New Juvenile Justice Act,
  • New Foster Care programme
  • Reform of Adoption System

Scaling up Citizens’ Participation in SBM (U)

(Topic: Government policies and scheme and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation)

About- Union Minister for Urban Minister inaugurated a consultative workshop on Scaling up Citizens’ Participation in Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) {SBM (U)} to a ‘Jan Andolan’ in New Delhi.

Organised by- Ministry of Urban Development & Tata Institute of Social Sciences

Help- To share ideas, experiences and also to know the good practices this will help to bridge the gaps in SBM

 Steps for increasing citizens’ participation-

• Swachh Survekshan, thematic drives with citizen participation, engaging students and Self-Help Groups- drivers and change agents for social behaviour change
• Engaging nearly 20,000 swachhagrahisacross the country to motivate communities to stop open defecation
• Intensive PR and social media campaigns being run continuously to engage with citizens to trigger and sustain their motivation to participate in cleanliness drives
• Creation of infrastructure- be it construction of individual and community/public toilets, facilitate waste processing into value-added products, setting up technology-enabled collection and transportation systems for solid waste, setting up waste-to-compost and waste-to-energy plants for waste processing
• To encourage production of city compost from solid waste, it has now been made mandatory for fertilizer companies in states to purchase the compost produced by city compost manufacturers. India is now looking at a potential compost production of 23 lakh MT per annum by March 2017, which is likely to go up even further

Progress:

• About 122 cities have achieved Open Defecation Free (ODF) status so far and a total of 739 cities will achieve ODF status in this financial year.
• Three States – Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Kerala have committed to be 100% ODF by March 2017.

Launch of ‘TARANG’ ‘e-Trans’ & ‘DEEP’

(Topic: Government policies and scheme and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation)

About- Union Minister of State (IC) for Power, Coal, New & Renewable Energy and Mines launched the ‘TARANG’ Mobile App, ‘e-Trans’ & ‘DEEP’ e-bidding web portals, developed by Rural Electrification Corporation Transmission Projects Company Limited (RECTPCL), a subsidiary of REC Ltd, in New Delhi.

Aim- To enhance transparency in power transmission sector of the country by launching

TARANG- a powerful monitoring tool that tracks upcoming transmission projects and monitors the progress of Inter-State & Intra-State transmission systems in the country, being developed through Regulated tariff mechanism as well as Tariff Based Competitive Bidding (TBCB) route.

• ‘TARANG’ (Transmission App for Real Time Monitoring & Growth) Mobile App & Web Portalhas been developed by RECTPCL, under the guidance of Ministry of Power.
• Introduction of the electronic platform shall enhance ease, accountability & transparency and would boost confidence of investors in power transmission sector.
• Better price discovery shall ultimately benefit the power consumers in India.
• TARANG shall also include status of stalled/delayed transmission systems in country which would enable the stakeholders viz. Ministry of Power, State Governments, all private sector transmission developers and PSUs like Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd., for expeditious completion of such projects.
• Green Energy Corridors, an important component of our renewable energy mission, would also be monitored through TARANG and help to meet our ambitious targets in same on time.

e-Trans- web platform for e-bidding and e-reverse auction for Tariff Based Competitive Bidding (TBCB) in transmission projects

DEEP-

• Launch of the ‘DEEP (Discovery of Efficient Electricity Price) e-Bidding’ portal for medium term (1-5 years) purchase of power
• Portal will provide a common e-bidding platform with e-reverse auction facility to facilitate nation-wide power procurement through a wider network so as to bring uniformity and transparency in the process of power procurement.

Benefits-

• Introduction of e-Bidding and e-reverse auction process for medium term (1-5 years), the time span of the complete bidding process and the cost of procurement of power is expected to be reduced substantially, thereby significantly benefiting the ultimate consumers.
• System of e-reverse auction is being introduced with concept of L-1 matching. The provision of multiple progressive bidding based on the fuel choice has also been incorporated in the system.

2^nd Meeting of BRICS: Disaster Management

(Topic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and affecting India’s interests)

About- 2^nd Meeting of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, and China & South Africa) Ministers for Disaster Management will be held in Udaipur, Rajasthan on August 22-23, 2016.

Focus on-

• Flood Risk Management
• Forecasting of Extreme Weather Events in the context of Changing Climate.

Outcome of-

• Recognizing the common challenge posed by natural and man-made disasters, BRICS countries have identified Disaster Management as an important area of collaboration.
• The Ufa Declaration signed by BRICS Nations at the 7^th BRICS Summit on July 9, 2015 identified the need to promote cooperation in preventing and developing responses to emergency situations.
• Declaration also acknowledged the fruitful discussions on natural disasters within the context of BRICS cooperation in Science, Technology and Innovation.
• It also reiterated BRICS commitment to mitigate the negative impact of climate change. All the five BRICS countries have signed the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
• They are also parties to the adoption of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in March, 2015 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in September 2015. A number of SDGs have specific targets related to Disaster Risk Management (DRM).

Objectives of this meeting are-

• To share experiences on flood risk management particularly with regards to Flood risk assessment, Flood forecasting and Early warning and emergency response
• To share experiences on current systems in each country for forecasting extreme weather events — heat and cold waves, and episodes of extreme rainfall– particularly in the context of a changing climate
• To identify opportunities for- Collaboration between institutions of respective BRICS countries in the area of flood risk management and extreme weather related events.

Challenges for Disaster Risk Management-

• Mainstreaming DRR in key development sectors
• Capacity building at local level
• Strengthening of response mechanism

Forecasting and early warning on floods and extreme weather events-

• Key early warning challenges
• Highlights of recent scientific and technical developments
• Lessons learnt for ensuring last mile connectivity/community level action on early warning

Disaster risk in a changing climate

• Emerging disaster risks as a result of climate change
• DRM practices evolving in view of emerging disaster risks in a changing climate.

NMCG and IOC sign MoU for industrial use of treated water

(Topic: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and affecting India’s interests)

About- Foundation laying of STP in Mathura which will provide treated water for industrial use.

Industrial use of treated water-

• MoU was also signed to this effect between National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and Indian Oil Corporation (IOC).
• Adoption of hybrid annuity mode by NMCG the complexion of Yamuna will change completely in Mathura-Vrindavan by the year 2018.
• Every effort will be made to stop the flow of polluted water of Yamuna from Delhi to Mathura Vrindavan.
• Use of pressure technology in irrigation we would be able to save about 60 percent water of Ganga and Yamuna which will help to maintain good e-flow of water in these rivers.

NMPB to launch National campaign on Medicinal Plants at Jaipur

(Topic: Issues relating to development and management of social sector/ services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources)

About-National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) of the Ministry of AYUSH will launch a National campaign on Medicinal Plants on 20th – 21st August, 2016 at Jaipur.

Campaign will be organised at- State Institute of Agriculture Management (SIAM), Durgapura, in Jaipur.

Participants- Approximately 500 farmers who are cultivating medicinal plants from across the country will participate.

Benefit- Most of the stakeholders will be benefited through this event.

NMPB-

• NMPB has been working for the growth and development of medicinal plants in the country since its inception in year 2000.
• At present, NMPB promotes medicinal plants conservation, cultivation, research, marketing, quality and other activities under Central Sector Scheme for “Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants” and Medicinal Plants component under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National AYUSH Mission for cultivation of medicinal plants.

Health Minister inaugurates 3^rd World Trauma Congress

(Topic: Issues relating to development and management of social sector/ services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources)

About- Health Ministry will soon come out with a National Injury Control Program to provide trauma healthcare and save lives of the lakhs of persons lost in accidents and to injury.

Objectives- To exchange ideas, experiences and lessons learned about the role of internationally accepted systems and protocols in the field of trauma care, mass causality incidents, and disasters.

Need of such program-

• Road traffic injuries are among the three leading causes of death for people between 5 and 44 years of age.
• Unless immediate and effective action is taken, road traffic injuries are predicted to become the 5^th leading cause of death in the world, resulting in an estimated 24 lakh deaths each year.
• Road injuries and deaths cause a colossal economic cost of up to 1.5% of the Gross National Product (GNP) in the low- and middle-income countries.

Latest statistic-

• In India 52 persons died every hour in various accidents in 2014, the major causes of accidental deaths in India are “Traffic accident, “Drowning”, and Poisoning” and “Accidental fire.
• India has the highest Road crash mortality in the world.
• As per the statistics quoted in the report of the action for road safety, each year nearly 16 lakh people die globally as a result of a road traffic collision— more than 3000 deaths each day—and more than half of these people are not travelling in a car.
• About 2 to 5 crore more people sustain non-fatal injuries from a collision, and these injuries are an important cause of disability worldwide.
• Ninety percent of road traffic deaths occur in low-income and middle-income countries, which claim less than half the world’s registered vehicle fleet.

Important reasons of increased mortality-

• Non-availability of trauma systems which include care from the injury site till rehabilitation
• Pre-hospital care is absent in many states, and in some states very primitive without the state of the art ambulances, trained manpower and proper organization in a definite geographical area
• In-hospital trauma care infrastructure presently cannot cater to the needs of ‘multiply injured patients’ due to lack of trained manpower and resources
• Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Legislation is not uniformly adapted
• Only state of Gujarat has enacted it;
• Lack of authentic data and trauma related research
• Non-existent or few rehabilitation facilities

WTC-

1^st WTC: ‘Rio de Jenario’

2^nd WTC: Frankfurt

3rd WTC: India

Additional facilities extended to persons residing in India on Long-Term Visa (LTV)

(Topic: Steps taken for upliftment of minority community)

About- Central Government has extended certain facilities in last two years to persons from Minority community of Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan, namely Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians  staying on Long Term Visa  (LTV) in India,  such as affidavit in place of renunciation certificate, LTV for five years instead of two years, facilities for education and employment, etc.

Aim- To provide them fair opportunities for a more comfortable living and hassle-free movement and pursuit of economic activities within the territory of India, Government has decided to extend the following additional facilities to this class of LTV holders-

• Permission to open bank account
• Permission for purchase of property for self occupation and suitable accommodation for carrying out self–employment
• Permission to take self employment
• Issuance of driving licence, PAN card and Aadhar number
• Allowing free movement within the State/UT where they are staying
• Transfer of LTV papers from one State to other
• Reduction of penalty amount to Rs.100, Rs.200 and Rs.500 instead of existing amount of $30, $130, $230 on non–extension of short term Visa /LTV.
• Permission to apply for LTV from the place of present residence when the applicants have changed place without permission.

GS-3

India set to seize big opportunity in logistic costs saving through Sagarmala

(Topic: Infrastructure- Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.)

Augmenting operational efficiency of ports & optimizing logistics evacuation can give boost to Indian trade and help seize the big opportunity of growth in Indian cargo traffic at ports which is estimated to increase to 2.5 bn. MMTPA by 2025. The origin destination study on cargo traffic projections & logistics bottlenecks lays emphasis on the need for creation of efficient infrastructure at requisite demand and logistic chain centres.

India’s logistic cost—

Currently 95% of India’s trade by value and 70 % by volume take place through maritime transport. Globally, maritime nations such as China, South Korea and Japan have effectively used their coastline for ‘port-led development’. It is therefore essential for India to optimize logistics cost and identify capacity additions required at different ports to prepare for future traffic flow.

Focusing on the total demand and supply situation of major EXIM flow of key commodities currently being handled by ports, the report suggests-

• Opportunities to optimize logistics cost for existing and future cargo capacities
• Capacity additions or reconfigurations needed at various ports to prepare for future traffic flow, including new ports development.

Study estimates-

• Potential to save around INR 35,000-40,000 Crores per annum by optimizing logistics flows for key commodities by 2025.
• Some of the key drivers identified for this are promoting coastal shipping of bulk commodities like coal, setting-up coastal clusters for bulk commodities like cement & steel, and providing last-mile connectivity of ports with National Highways and Railway network.

Programme aims-

• To change the way logistics evacuation happens in India
• Save logistics costs nationwide for cargo handling and evacuation through seaports
• Boost overall economic development through ports
• Empower coastal communities.
• Identifying the opportunity of increase in cargo traffic to 2.5 bn MMTPA by 2025
• Establishing new trans-shipment port, creating dedicated coastal berths ports for coastal shipping, setting up storage capacities at origin-destination ports to shorten turnaround time and developing adequate ship-repair facilities in the maritime states

Scope of Sagarmala implies-

• Partnership with and support from key stakeholders
• Aligning with the government’s ‘Make in India’ campaign, private-sector participation through PPP models will be explored for developing port infrastructure, railway infrastructure and coastal shipping.

NHAI collaborates with PFC—Adopt a Green Highway Program

(Topic: Infrastructure- Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc)

About- National Green Highways Mission (NGHM) under NHAI has collaborated with Power Finance Corporation Ltd. (PFC) for plantations work on NH 7 in Nagpur region (Borkhedi – Wadner, & Khatara – Kelapur) covering 87 km stretch. Power Finance Corporation Ltd. has provided financial assistance of Rs. 13 crore for plantation and five year maintenance under their CSR funds.

Adopt a Green Highway Program-

• This event is historic as this marks the first collaboration with the National Green Highways Mission – NHAI under their ‘Adopt a Green Highways’
• Adopt a Green Highway Program is an initiative by NGHM to engage Corporates, Public Sector Units, Governmental organizations, institutions and individuals under CSR and Public Private Partnership for developing green corridor along NHs
• This will open new vistas for PSUs & Corporate houses to utilize their CSR funds for greening of highways and creation of ecological assets. Discussions with other PSUs such as Coal India Ltd and other corporates are under process to promote Greening of Highways.
• For the proposed work in Nagpur, NGHM has engaged four empanelled agencies to execute plantation and maintenance work. The agencies have been mandated to engage at least 70% work force from the local community, thereby enhancing livelihood opportunity. Out of these four agencies, 3 are start-ups, which is in line with the vision of PM to promote start-up India campaign.

BARC develops portable kit for detection of Chromium-contamination of water

(Topic: Achievements of Indians in science and technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology)

About Chromium-

• Chromium is widely used in various industries like leather, steel, chrome plating, paint manufacturing, wood preservation etc.
• Untreated effluents from these industries cause widespread contamination of water as been reported in several parts of the country.
• Chromium in the environment primarily exists as Trivalent Chromium Cr (III) and Hexavalent Chromium Cr (VI). The later is toxic and the World Health Organization has classified it as carcinogenic and can cause stomach ulcers, and cancers and severe damage to kidneys and liver.
• As per Indian standard IS10500 for drinking water, the maximum permissible concentration of Cr (VI) in drinking water is 50 microgram per litre. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends a still lower permissible concentration of 10 microgram per liter.

Detection of Cr (VI)-

At such low levels is not only technically challenging but also expensive and time consuming since it involves collection of water samples from affected areas, transportation to the laboratory, storage and finally analysis. The method can be used for limited water samples with errors due to conversion of Cr (III) to Cr (VI) and vice versa during transport and storage.

BARC-

• BARC has developed a simple, user friendly, quick and cost effective kit for onsite determination of Cr (VI), which meets IS10500 as well as EPA criterion.
• It provides the much needed solution to measure the level of Chromium contamination in drinking water and tap water, lakes, rivers as well as ground water.
• Procedure involves adding a specified amount of specific reagents to the water sample and identifying the developed color.

Color chart-

• Color develops within 5 minutes and the distinction can be made with naked eye.
• For ease of comparison a color chart is provided with the kit.
• Water samples can be immediately categorized as being safe or toxic for drinking from Chromium (VI) point of view.
• Kit provides several advantages including onsite detection and instantaneous results, elimination of use of sophisticated instruments for analysis, low investment on infrastructure for production of the kit, easy availability of raw materials and very good accuracy for the intended purpose.

BRO Launches Ambitious Tree Plantation Drive

(Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment)

About- Border Roads Organisation (BRO), under Ministry of Defence, which is one of the premier road construction agencies of the country, launched a massive tree plantation drive in the Northern & Eastern states of India.

Plantation Drive-

• Almost two lakh saplings will be planted across the country under this programme.
• Aim is to protect the ecology and increase the green cover along the border areas of the Country
• Apart from planting of the saplings, the most important thing is to ensure their maintenance and care.
• Effort is also aimed at saving the precious life and land from soil erosion and consequent flash floods caused by the incessant rains and also to make the people aware about the importance of tree plantation.
• BRO also plans to conduct numerous activities to create awareness amongst the people, by way of organizing community participation, competitions for children and by organizing a mini-marathon with the theme ‘Run for the Roads’ in the near future.