EDITORIALS & ARTICLES

01st Oct 2021

SWACHH BHARAT MISSION-URBAN 2.0 AND AMRUT 2.0 (ATAL MISSION FOR REJUVENATION AND URBAN TRANSFORMATION) - MISSIONS DESIGNED TO MAKE TO MAKE ALL OUR CITIES ‘GARBAGE FREE’ AND ‘WATER SECURE’ The Prime Minister has launched Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0 and Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation 2.0 on 1st October 2021 in New Delhi. Highlights:  
  • SBM-U 2.0 and AMRUT 2.0 have been designed to make all cities ‘Garbage Free’ and ‘Water Secure’.
  • It will address the challenges of urbanization and contribute towards achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals 2030.
Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0:
  • It envisions to make all cities ‘Garbage Free’ and ensure grey and black water management in all cities.
  • To make urban local bodies as ODF+ and those with a population of less than 1 lakh as ODF++, thereby achieving the vision of safe sanitation in urban areas.
  • It will focus on source segregation of solid waste, utilizing the principles of reduce, reuse, recycle,
  • It focuses on scientific processing of municipal solid waste and remediation of legacy dumpsites for effective solid waste management.
  • The outlay of SBM-U 2.0 is around ₹1.41 lakh crore.
Swachh Bharat Mission- Urban:
  • The (SBM-U), was launched on 2nd October 2014
  • Aim: To make urban India free from open defecation and achieving 100% scientific management of municipal solid waste in 4,041 statutory towns in the country.
  • The Scheme comes under Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
Objectives:
  • Elimination of open defecation
  • Eradication of Manual Scavenging
  • Modern and Scientific Municipal Solid Waste Management
  • To effect behavioral change regarding healthy sanitation practices
  • Generate awareness about sanitation and its linkage with public health
  • Participation of private sector in Capex capital expenditure, operation, and maintenance.
Targets of the Mission:
  • Construction of 66.42 Lakh individual household toilets (IHHL).
  • Construction of 2.52 lakh community toilet (CT) seats.
  • Construction of 2.56 lakh public toilet (PT) seats.
  • Achieving 100% door-to-door collection and scientific management of municipal solid waste.
AMRUT 2.0:
  • It aims to provide 100% coverage of water supply to all households in 4,700 urban local bodies by providing 2.68 crore tap connections.
  • Focus on 100% coverage of sewerage and septage in 500 AMRUT cities by providing 2.64 crore sewer septage connections will benefit more than 10.5 crore people in urban areas.
  • It will adopt the principles of circular economy and promote conservation of surface and groundwater bodies.
  • Promote data led governance in water management and Technology Sub-Mission to leverage latest global technologies and skills.
  • ‘Pey Jal Survekshan’ will be conducted to promote progressive competition among cities.
  • The outlay of AMRUT 2.0 is around ₹2.87 lakh crore.
Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation:
  • The Government of India launched Mission AMRUT in 2015.
  • Aim: To provide basic amenities like water supply, sewerage, urban transport, parks to improve the quality of life for the poor and the disadvantaged.
  • The focus is on infrastructure creation to provide better services to the citizens.
  • The Mission covers 500 cities including cities and towns with a population of one lakh with notified Municipalities.
  • It is regulated by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
Objectives of the Scheme:
  • To ensure every household has access to a tap with assured supply of water and a sewerage connection.
  • To increase the amenity value of cities by developing greenery and well-maintained open spaces.
  • To reduce pollution by switching to public transport or constructing facilities for non-motorized transport.
LABOUR MINISTER LAUNCHES DIGISAKSHAM TO ENHANCE EMPLOYABILITY OF YOUTH   Ministry for Labour and Employment launched Digi Saksham - a digital skills Programme on 30th September 2021 to enhance the employability of youth. Highlights:
  • Digi Saksham will be implemented in the field by Aga Khan Rural Support Programme India (AKRSP-I).
  • Aim: To enhance the employability of youth by imparting digital skills in the technology driven era.
  • It is a joint initiative with Microsoft India.
  • It will provide free training in digital skills, will be provided to more than 3 lakh youths.
  • The Jobseekers can access the training through National Career Service (NCS) Portal.
  • It gives priority to the job-seekers of semi urban areas belonging to disadvantaged communities including those who have lost their jobs due to Covid-19 pandemic.
  • Jobseekers can access resources such as programming languages, data analytics, software development and advanced digital productivity.
National Career Service (NCS):
  • ​NCS was launched on 20th July, 2015.
  • It provides a wide array of employment and career related services to the citizens of India.
  • It works towards bridging the gap between jobseekers and employers
  • Candidates can seek training, career guidance, counselling.
Services Offered NCS:
  1. Local services
  • The portal brings together the households with specialized services for homes like drivers, electricians, plumbers, carpenters etc.
  • It helps the small needs in the household to be addressed.
  • It generates employment for people at the grassroots.
  1. Information for Entrepreneurs
  • The self-employed workforce has a huge potential to grow and become entrepreneurs with better access to finance, technology, and open markets.
  • They can provide employment opportunities to others.
  • NCS brings a collation of material and helpful links to facilitate entrepreneurs for better growth.
NITI AAYOG LAUNCHES REPORT ON BEST PRACTICES IN THE PERFORMANCE OF DISTRICT HOSPITALS NITI Aayog Unveiled the study- ‘Best Practices in the Performance of District Hospitals’ on 30th September 2021. Highlights:
  • The assessment evaluated 707 district hospitals on 10 key performance indicators. It was based on data from 2017-18.
  • District hospitals were categorised into small (up to 200 beds), medium (201-300 beds) and large (more than 300 beds).
Key Findings:
  • A district hospital had 24 beds for 100,000 people on an average.
  • The World Health Organization recommends five hospital beds for every 1,000 people.
  • Puducherry had the highest average beds in the country while Bihar had the lowest average of six beds per 100,000 citizens.
  • Only 27% of the total 707 districts met the doctor-to-bed ratio of 29 doctors per 100 beds in a hospital.
    • 88 hospitals out of 707 had the required ratio of staff nurses.
  • Only 399 hospitals were found to have a ratio of paramedical staff.
    • Madhya Pradesh had the highest proportion (14.8%) such hospitals, followed by Delhi (12.5%) and UP (11.4%).
  • Every district hospital in India had 11 support services, compared to the required 14.
    • Tamil Nadu had the highest proportion (20.2%) followed by Rajasthan (11.2%), UP (10.1%).
  • Only 21 hospitals fulfilled the criteria of having all diagnostic testing services available.
    • Karnataka had the highest proportion (28.6%) followed by Telangana (19%) and Gujarat (9.5%).
  • Uttar Pradesh at (14.8%) had the highest proportion of hospitals with bed occupancy rate followed by Madhya Pradesh (10.9%), Maharashtra (8.2%).
INDIA EXTENDS SUPPORT FOR PROTECTING THE ANTARCTIC ENVIRONMENT AND FOR DESIGNATING EAST ANTARCTICA AND THE WEDDELL SEA AS MARINE PROTECTED AREAS (MPAS) India has extended support for protecting the Antarctic environment and co-sponsoring the proposal of the European Union for designating East Antarctica and the Weddell Sea as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Highlights:
  • India stood in support of sustainability in protecting the Antarctic environment.
  • The two proposed MPAs are essential to regulate illegal unreported and unregulated fishing.
  • India will join Australia, Norway, Uruguay, and the United Kingdom in co-sponsoring the MPA proposals by the end of October 2021.
  • The support is driven by conservation and sustainable utilization principles and adhering to the global cooperation frameworks like Sustainable Development Goals, UN Decade of Oceans, Convention on Biodiversity etc.
Marine Protected Areas?
  • (MPAs) involve the protective management of natural areas according to pre-defined management objectives.
  • They can be conserved for economic resources, biodiversity conservation, and species protection.
  • They are created by delineating zones with permitted and non-permitted uses.
  • It is vital to have in depth knowledge of the area to define ecological boundaries and set objectives for the MPA.
  • It is important to have the support of the public and established techniques for surveillance and monitoring of compliance.
  • IUCN engages in advocating for the expansion of the MPA network through reliable science and local stakeholders.
Marine Protected Area Agency Partnership:
  • (MPAAP) is a high-level venue for senior government officials from national marine protected area (MPA) agencies to discuss common issues and explore opportunities for cooperation.
Member Countries:
  • Argentina, Australia, Canada, Colombia, Finland, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico.
  • New Zealand, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, South Africa, the United Kingdom, the United States.
CCAMLR:
  • The Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources came into force in 1982, as part of the Antarctic Treaty System.
  • It was established in response to concerns regarding killing of fishes in the Southern Ocean and other marine life.
  • To conserve and protect marine life.
  • It defines a Commission and a Scientific Committee to manage marine living resources in the Southern Ocean.
  • The (CCAMLR) has developed an ‘ecosystem approach’ to the regulation of fisheries.
  • It has developed management approaches that assess the status of the ecosystem and its health.
Location of Weddell Sea:
  • It lies between the South Shetland Islands and the continent of Antarctica.
  • The sea is home to the largest number of penguin rookeries.
  • It is famed for its huge ice shelves and flat-topped icebergs.
  • Wildlife includes elephant seals, seabirds, and penguins.
  • It was named the Weddell Sea in 1900 on a British explorer and sealer, James Weddell.
            GOVERNMENT DISSOLVES ORDNANCE FACTORY BOARD, TRANSFERS EMPLOYEES AND ASSETS TO 7 PSUS The Central Government issued orders for the dissolution of Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) from 1st October 2021. What is OFB?
  • The Ordnance Factory Board was established in 1979, comes under the Ministry of Defence.
  • Headquarters: Kolkata.
  • It supplies ammunition, and weapons used by the armed, police, and paramilitary forces.
  • The products include military-grade arms and ammunition, chemicals for missile systems, explosives, propellants, armored vehicles, parachutes, troop clothing, support equipment etc.
Why it was done?
  • The decision was taken as a part of ‘Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’.
  • Government will dismantle the conglomerate into smaller companies for better autonomy, efficiency, and accountability in ordnance supplies.
    • 41 factories, 9 training institutes, 4 regional controllers of safety, and 3 regional marketing centres of OFB will be restructured into 7 Defence Public Sector Units (DPSUs).
  • The 7 DPSUs will be 100% state-owned.
  New DPSUs are:
  1. Gliders India Limited
  2. India Optel Limited
  3. Yantra India Limited
  4. Troop Comforts Limited
  5. Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited
  6. Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited
  7. Munition India Limited
Assurance to OFB Workers:
  • The employees across the Group A, B, & C will be transferred without any deputation allowance initially for two years from the date of appointment.
  • The employees of Kolkata and New Delhi, will be transferred to the Directorate of Ordnance Factories under the Department of Defence Production for two years.
  • The pay scales, allowances, medical facilities, career progression, and other services will be governed by the regulation and orders as applicable to the Central government servants.
  • The pension of existing employees and retirees will be taken care by the government.
IN A FIRST, 4 WEST AFRICAN COUNTRIES COMMIT TO COOPERATE ON SENEGALO-MAURITANIAN AQUIFER BASIN Ministers of the Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Mauritania, and Senegal signed a joint declaration 29th September 2021 to advance transboundary cooperation in the Senegal-Mauritanian Aquifer Basin (SMAB). Highlights:
  • The declaration is as per the Progress on Transboundary Water Cooperation: global status of SDG indicator 6.5.2 and acceleration needs, by UNECE and UNESCO, 2021.
  • The declaration will be first ever mechanism in West Africa and pave the way for strengthened collaboration on shared groundwater resources.
  • The Senegal-Mauritanian aquifer basin is the largest basin in the Atlantic margin of north-west Africa.
  • More than 24 million inhabitants of the region are dependent on it for drinking water and other needs.
    • This includes the capitals of Guinea Bissau and Senegal, namely Bissau and Dakar.
 






POSTED ON 01-10-2021 BY ADMIN
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