50th anniversary of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI)

• The year 2024 commemorates 50 years since the launch of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1974 which is now known as the Essential Programme on Immunization.

Essential Programme on Immunization:

• It was launched as the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) by World Health Organisation in 1974 to ensure that all children, in all countries, benefited from life-saving vaccines.
• This programme has evolved into what is now commonly known as the Essential Programme on Immunization.
• Disease covered (Total 13)
• Initially this programme focused on protection against six childhood vaccine-preventable diseases namely Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio, and measles.
• Later on WHO added 7 more disease under this initiative Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib), Hepatitis B (HepB), rubella, pneumococcal disease (PNC), rotavirus (Rota), human papillomavirus (HPV), and COVID-19 (for adults).

India’s Universal Immunization Programme (UIP)

• India launched the EPI in 1978, which was later renamed as the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) in 1985.
• Objectives:
• To rapidly increase immunization coverage.
• To improve the quality of services.
• To establish a reliable cold chain system to the health facility level.
• Monitoring of performance.
• To achieve self-sufficiency in vaccine production.

Eligibility:

• All beneficiaries’ namely pregnant women and children can get themselves vaccinated at the nearest Government/Private health facility or at an immunization session site (Anganwadicentres/ other identified sites) near to their village/urban locality on fixed days.
• The UIP covers all sections of the society across the country with the same high quality vaccines.
• Under UIP, immunization is providing free of cost against 12 vaccine preventable diseases
• Nationally against 9 diseases - Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Polio, Measles, Rubella, severe form of Childhood Tuberculosis, Hepatitis B and Meningitis & Pneumonia caused by Hemophilus Influenza type B
• Sub-nationally against 3 diseases - Rotavirus diarrhoea, Pneumococcal Pneumonia and Japanese Encephalitis; of which Rotavirus vaccine and Pneumococcal Conjugate vaccine are in process of expansion while JE vaccine is provided only in endemic districts.

Alok Shukla, convenor of the Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan and founding member of the Hasdeo Aranya Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, has been awarded the 2024 Goldman Prize from Asia.

Goldman Environmental Prize:

• The Prize recognizes individuals for sustained and significant efforts to protect and enhance the natural environment, often at great personal risk.
• It is also known as the Green Nobel.
• It recognizes grassroots environmental heroes from roughly the world’s six inhabited continental regions: Africa, Asia, Europe,Islands & Island Nations, North America and South & Central America
• The Goldman Prize views “grassroots” leaders as those involved in local efforts, where positive change is created through community or citizen participation.
• The first Goldman Environmental Prize ceremony took place on April 16, 1990. It was timed to coincide with Earth Day.

Hasdeo Aranya region:

• It is a sprawling forest in the northern part of Chhattisgarh which is known for its biodiversity and also its coal deposits.
• The forest falls under Korba, Surajpur and Sarguja districts with sizeable tribal population.
• The Hasdeo River, a tributary of Mahanadi, flows through it.
• It is the largest un-fragmented forests in Central India consisting of pristine Sal (Shorea robusta) and teak forests.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has cancelled the registration of at least five Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) for allegedly violating provisions of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA).

Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act:

• The FCRA was enacted in 1976 during the Emergency period due to concerns about foreign interference in India''s affairs.
• The act regulates foreign donations to ensure operations align with the values of a sovereign democratic republic.

Key Amendments and Provisions:

• 2010 Amendment: Consolidated laws to regulate the acceptance and utilization of foreign contributions, prohibiting their use for activities detrimental to national interest.
• 2020 Amendment:
• Tightened government control and scrutiny.
• Prohibited the transfer of foreign contributions to any other person or organization.
• Reduced the limit of foreign contribution usage for administrative expenses from 50% to 20%.

Registration Requirements:

• Entities must register under the FCRA to receive foreign donations in India.
• Registration is granted for activities in cultural, economic, educational, religious, or social areas.
• Entities can register under multiple categories, allowing for diverse activities.
• Applicants must open a bank account at a specified branch of the State Bank of India in New Delhi for receiving foreign funds.

Prohibitions and Restrictions:

• The act prohibits funding to candidates, journalists, media companies, judges, government servants, politicians, and political organizations.
• Activities such as religious conversion (direct or indirect), involvement in creating communal tension, or sedition are also prohibited.

Validity and Renewal:

• FCRA registration is valid for five years.
• NGOs must apply for renewal within six months of the registration''s expiry.
• The government can cancel an NGO''s registration for various reasons, including violations of the act or lack of reasonable activity in their chosen field for two consecutive years.
• Once canceled, an NGO is ineligible for re-registration for three years.

FCRA 2022 Rules:

• Introduced changes in July 2022, increasing the number of compoundable offences from 7 to 12.
• Raised the limit for contributions from relatives abroad that do not require government intimation from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 10 lakh.
• Extended the time limit for intimation of the opening of bank accounts.

The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has sanctioned a study on the impact evaluation of Geographical Indication (GI) products.

NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development):

• NABARD is India''s apex development bank dedicated to agriculture and rural development.
• The bank is fully owned by the Government of India and operates out of its headquarters in Mumbai.
• Established under the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development Act of 1981, NABARD focuses on sustainable and equitable development in agricultural and rural sectors.

Historical Background:

• NABARD was established in 1982, following legislation passed by Parliament based on the B. Sivaraman committee report of 1979.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) played a crucial role in the formation of NABARD by creating CRAFICARD to evaluate institutional credit for agriculture and rural development.
• The foundation of NABARD involved amalgamating the Agricultural Credit Department, the Rural Planning and Credit Cell of the RBI, and the Agricultural Refinance and Development Corporation.

Transformation of NABARD:

• The NABARD (Amendment) Bill of 2017, passed in 2018, increased its authorized capital from Rs. 5,000 crore to Rs. 30,000 crore.
• This amendment also transferred RBI''s shares to the central government, which now holds at least 51% of NABARD''s share capital.
• NABARD''s scope was expanded to include support for MSMEs in the manufacturing and service sectors, with increased financial thresholds.

Structure of Governance:

• NABARD is governed by a Board of Directors, which includes a Chairperson, rural economy experts, three RBI directors, government officials, and elected non-government shareholder members.
• An Executive Committee, a subset of the board, is tasked with handling specific functions delegated by the board.

Functions of NABARD:

• NABARD offers financial and refinance support for rural infrastructure and agricultural development.
• It is involved in developing and implementing government schemes, providing training, and offering marketing support to artisans.
• The bank supervises and supports Cooperative Banks and Regional Rural Banks, integrating them with modern banking technologies like the Core Banking Solution.
• Additionally, NABARD prepares district-level credit plans to guide the banking sector in achieving targets for agricultural credit.