ICG Participates in the 20th Heads of Asian Coast Guard Agencies Meeting

Key highlights

Key Issues Discussed:

• Maritime Law Enforcement: Strategies for better enforcement of maritime laws.
• Safety and Security of Life at Sea: Measures to enhance safety and security in maritime domains.
• Marine Environment Protection: Efforts and initiatives to protect the marine environment.
• Illicit Trafficking: Addressing the trafficking of drugs, weapons, and humans.
• Future Cooperation: Strengthening future collaborations among member agencies.

Heads of Asian Coast Guard Agencies Meeting (HACGAM):

• The HACGAM is an annual event hosted by one of its member nations on a rotational basis. 
• It was initiated by Japan to promote cooperation among regional coastguards.
• The forum has 23-member Coast Guard agencies and two associate members – the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
• It was launched after the capture of the pirated vessel MV Alondra Rainbow by the Indian Coast Guard in November 1999.

 Objectives:

• The primary focus of the HACGAM is to foster cooperation between the coast guards of the member Asian states to ensure and promote safe, secure and clean seas in the region.
• To achieve this, HACGAM comprised four working groups that enable a focused and goal-oriented approach towards coordinated response and synergy towards common maritime issues.

 Member countries:

Australia, Bahrein, Bangladesh, Brunei, Philippines, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Japan, Republic of Korea, Laos, Maldives, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Türkiye and Vietnam.

Indian Coast Guard

1) The Indian Coast Guard is a maritime law enforcement and search and rescue agency of India with jurisdiction over its territorial waters including its contiguous zone and exclusive economic zone.
2) Established in 1977 by the Coast Guard Act, 1978 of the Parliament of India.
3) Parent Agency: Ministry of Defence
4) Headquarters: New Delhi
5) Head: Director General Indian Coast Guard (DGICG) 

Missions of Indian Coast Guard

1) Safety and protection of artificial islands, offshore terminals and other installations.
2) Protection and assistance to fishermen and mariners at sea.
3) Preservation and protection of marine ecology and environment including pollution control.
4) Assistance to the Department of Customs and other authorities in anti-smuggling operations.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi shares scientific report highlighting impact of Swachh Bharat Mission in reducing infant and child mortality

• The report said toilet construction increased dramatically across India following the implementation of the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) in 2014. The post-SBM period in India exhibited accelerated reductions in infant and child mortality compared to the pre-SBM years, it said.
• The study covered the period from 2014 to 2020 in which the government constructed over 100 million household toilets and said that in 2003 the majority of districts in the country had an infant mortality rate (IMR) exceeding 60 per 1000 live births. However, by 2020, most districts had achieved an IMR below 30.

Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM)

About:

• It is a massive mass movement that seeks to create a Clean India by 2019. The father of our nation  Mahatma Gandhi always puts the emphasis on swachhta as swachhta leads to healthy and prosperous life.
• Keeping this in mind, the Indian government launch the swachh bharat mission on October 2, 2014.The mission cover all rural and urban areas.
• The urban component of the mission will be implemented by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, and the rural component by the Ministry of Jal Shakti.

Objectives of Swachh Bharat Mission

• Eliminate Open Defecation: Construction of household-owned and community-owned toilets to reduce and eventually eliminate open defecation.
• Eradicate Manual Scavenging: Implement measures to completely eradicate the inhumane practice of manual scavenging.
• Solid Waste Management: Establish modern and scientific methods for the collection, segregation, and disposal of municipal solid waste.
• Behavioral Change: Motivate communities to adopt sustainable sanitation practices and promote cleanliness.
• Raise Awareness: Create widespread awareness about sanitation and its critical link to public health.

Sub-Missions of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan

Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban)

• Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) primarily aims to address the sanitation and waste management challenges in India''s rapidly expanding urban areas.
• Launched on October 2, 2014, SBM (Urban) focuses on eliminating open defecation through the construction of household, community, and public toilets.
• It also prioritizes establishing modern solid waste management systems tailored to urban contexts.
• Key components include door-to-door waste collection, segregation at source, and both composting and recycling facilities. Public awareness campaigns play a crucial role in fostering behavioral change among urban residents.

Swachh Bharat Mission (Rural)

• Swachh Bharat Mission (Rural), also referred to as SBM (Rural), focuses on improving sanitation and hygiene in India''s rural areas.
• Launched alongside its urban counterpart on October 2, 2014, SBM (Rural) aims to end open defecation across all villages by constructing individual household latrines (IHHL).
• It also provides financial incentives to encourage their use.
• It emphasizes community-led initiatives, involving village-level workers and Gram Panchayats to ensure effective implementation and sustainability.
• Key initiatives include promoting behavioral change through Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) campaigns that highlight the importance of sanitation.

Key challenges related to Swachh Bharat Mission

• Poor Quality of Infrastructure: Reports suggest inadequate construction quality of toilets under the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), raising questions about the effectiveness of the initiative.
• Inadequate Access to Sanitation Facilities: Despite government claims, communities in slums and peri-urban areas still lack access to public toilets, contributing to sanitation challenges.
• Lack of Waste Treatment: Toilet construction in rural areas is not linked to waste treatment, leading to improper disposal of faecal sludge and environmental contamination.
• Ineffective Waste Management Technologies: Large, capital-intensive waste management technologies have failed to meet expectations, resulting in health crises and the need for additional resources to fix them.
• Privatization of Public Health Services: The outsourcing of sanitation work to private contractors, often employing subjugated communities, has led to the privatization of public health services and perpetuated caste discrimination.
• Insufficient Human Resources: Shortage of sanitation inspectors and inadequacy in recruitment efforts hinder effective monitoring and management of sanitation programs at the local level.

Way forward

• Enhanced Quality Assurance: Implement stricter quality control measures to ensure the construction of toilets meets prescribed standards. Regular inspections and audits can help identify and rectify any construction deficiencies.
• Targeted Infrastructure Development: Prioritize the construction of public toilets in slums and peri-urban areas to improve access to sanitation facilities for marginalized communities.
• Integrated Waste Management: Integrate toilet construction with waste treatment facilities in rural areas to ensure proper disposal of faecal sludge.

PM to address the programme marking the launch of ‘Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari initiative’ on 6th September

• The initiative aims to construct approximately 24,800 rainwater harvesting structures across Gujarat
• Aim: To promote community participation in water conservation as part of the Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain campaign

Jal Shakti Abhiyan

• The Jal Shakti Abhiyan launched by the Government of India.
• It is a significant initiative aimed at addressing water conservation and water security in the country.
• This comprehensive campaign encompasses various measures to promote efficient water management and enhance water availability.

Salient features of the Jal Shakti Abhiyan:

• Integrated Approach: The Jal Shakti Abhiyan adopts an integrated and holistic approach by bringing together various ministries, departments, and stakeholders to work collaboratively towards water conservation and management.
• Water Conservation Campaigns: The program emphasizes creating awareness and conducting water conservation campaigns at the grassroots level. It aims to educate and engage communities, schools, and institutions to adopt water-saving practices and techniques.
• Water Resource Assessment: The Abhiyan includes a comprehensive assessment of water resources, including groundwater levels, availability, and quality. It helps in identifying regions facing water stress and facilitates planning for sustainable water management.
• Rainwater Harvesting: Promotion of rainwater harvesting techniques is a key component of the Jal Shakti Abhiyan. It encourages the construction and maintenance of structures like rooftop rainwater harvesting systems, check dams, and percolation tanks to recharge groundwater levels.
• Water Budgeting and Crop Planning: The program emphasizes the implementation of efficient water budgeting and crop planning techniques. It aims to promote practices such as micro-irrigation, crop diversification, and optimal use of water resources in agriculture to enhance water productivity.
• Renovation of Traditional Water Bodies: The Abhiyan focuses on the renovation and restoration of traditional water bodies, such as ponds, lakes, and tanks. This helps in augmenting water storage capacities, recharging groundwater, and improving overall water availability in rural areas.
• Revival of Rivers: To ensure the rejuvenation of rivers, the Jal Shakti Abhiyan emphasizes river basin planning, interlinking of rivers, and ecological restoration. It aims to maintain minimum environmental flows and promote sustainable river management practices.
• Policy Reforms: The program advocates for policy reforms and regulatory mechanisms to enhance water governance. It aims to strengthen water-related laws, institutional frameworks, and mechanisms for effective implementation and monitoring of water conservation initiatives.

"Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain"

• It is an initiative under the larger Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) framework, specifically focused on enhancing rainwater harvesting across India.
• Launched in March 2021, this campaign aims to address the issue of water scarcity by promoting rainwater harvesting techniques and encouraging communities to capture and store rainwater effectively.

Components of the Campaign

1. Promotion of Rainwater Harvesting Techniques:
   • Rooftop Rainwater Harvesting: Encouraging households and institutions to install systems that capture and store rainwater from rooftops.
   • Recharge Pits:Constructing recharge pits and wells to facilitate groundwater recharge.
   • Check Dams and Nala (Stream) Desilting: Building check dams and desilting streams to enhance the storage and flow of rainwater.
2. Community Participation:
   • Training and Capacity Building: Providing training and resources to local communities and stakeholders on rainwater harvesting practices.
   • Incentives: Offering incentives or support to encourage the adoption of rainwater harvesting systems.
3. Monitoring and Evaluation:
   • Assessment: Regularly assessing the impact of rainwater harvesting practices and making necessary adjustments.
   • Reporting: Maintaining transparency and reporting progress through various platforms.

PM Narendra Modi virtually addresses first International Solar Festival being held in Delhi

key highlights related to the International Solar Festival and India’s solar energy initiatives-

India''s Solar Energy Progress

• Growth: India’s solar energy capacity has increased 32-fold in the past decade.
• Target: India aims to achieve 500 gigawatts (GW) of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030.
• Paris Agreement: India is the first G20 nation to meet its Paris Agreement commitments in renewable energy.

International Solar Alliance (ISA)

• Establishment: ISA was established in 2015.
• Membership Growth: ISA''s membership has reached 100 countries, with 19 more countries in the process of ratifying the framework agreement.
• Vision: Promotes the vision of "One World, One Sun," emphasizing global unity in harnessing solar energy.

 International Solar Festival

• Purpose: The festival celebrates the impact of solar energy and aims to build a better planet.
• Participants: The event brings together youth, women, communities, policymakers, and the private sector.
• Activities: Includes technical sessions, exhibitions, experience zones showcasing solar technologies, and cultural performances.

Solar Energy 

• Solar technologies use clean energy from the sun rather than polluted fossil fuels.
• There are two main types:
• solar thermal, which uses solar energy to heat water
• solar photovoltaic (PV), which uses solar cells to transform sunlight into electricity.

Solar Energy - Working and Usage

• The sun radiates an enormous amount of energy in the form of electromagnetic radiation. Solar technologies utilise various methods to tap this abundant renewable energy source.
• There are two primary ways solar energy is harnessed -
• Direct conversion into electricity using 
• Capturing heat from the sun''s rays to generate electricity indirectly.
• Usage: Solar technologies are scalable and flexible- they can power an entire city through solar farms, provide electricity in remote areas via decentralized systems, and light up homes and commercial buildings by installing rooftop solar panels.
• For example: Cochin International Airport
• Significance:The adoption of solar energy provides several benefits, including reducing reliance on depleting fossil fuels, mitigating carbon emissions, improving air quality, and boosting energy access and security, among others.

India''s solar energy potential:

Solar Resource Potential

• Solar Insulation: India receives an average solar insolation of 5-7 kWh/m²/day across most of its regions.
• Geographical Area: With about 300 sunny days a year, India''s geographical expanse offers significant potential for solar energy harnessing.

 Current Installed Capacity

• Installed Capacity: As of early 2024, India’s installed solar power capacity stands at approximately 63 gigawatts (GW). This includes both grid-connected and off-grid solar installations.

Future Targets

• 2030 Targets: India has set an ambitious target to achieve 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030, which includes a substantial increase in solar energy capacity.
• 2025 Targets: The government aims to install 100 GW of solar power capacity by 2025 as part of its National Solar Mission.

National Solar Mission

• Launch Year: The National Solar Mission was launched in 2010 as part of India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change.
• Goals: It aims to promote solar energy by creating favorable conditions for its deployment in the country.

 Policy and Initiatives

• Solar Park Scheme: India has developed several solar parks to facilitate large-scale solar installations. Notable ones include the Kurnool Ultra Mega Solar Park and the Pavagada Solar Park.
• Green Energy Corridor: Projects like the Green Energy Corridor are being developed to facilitate the integration of renewable energy into the national grid.

A webinar organised for convergence of schemes of Department of Animal Husbandry with SHG members in National Rural Livelihoods Mission

• The webinar aimed to enhance the reach of DAHD schemes to SHG members under NRLM, focusing on improving animal husbandry practices and income opportunities for rural women.

Programs and Schemes:

       1. National Livestock Mission Schemes:

• Covered entrepreneurship in poultry, sheep, goat, and pig sectors.
• Explained how SHG members can benefit from these schemes.

       2. Insurance Schemes:

• Promotion of livestock insurance with subsidies on premiums (up to 85%).
• Introduction of RFID technology to replace ear tags.

National Rural Livelihoods Mission

• It was launched in June 2011 and is now known as the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM) in honor of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, a noted philosopher and politician.
• The primary objective of NRLM is to reduce poverty by promoting diversified and gainful self-employment and wage employment opportunities for rural households, especially women.

Key Features:

Universal Social Mobilisation

• At least one-woman member from each identified rural poor household, is to be brought under the Self-Help Group (SHG) network in a time bound manner.
• Special emphasis is particularly on vulnerable communities such as manual scavengers, victims of human trafficking, Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) and bonded labour.
• NRLM has devised special strategies to reach out to these communities and help them graduate out of poverty.

Participatory Identification of Poor (PIP) –

• The inclusion of the target group under NRLM is determined by a well-defined, transparent and equitable process of participatory identification of poor, at the level of the community.
• All households identified as poor through the PIP process is the NRLM Target Group and is eligible for all the benefits under the programme.
• Target Group is identified through the Participatory Identification of Poor (PIP) method.
• The NRLM Target Group (NTG) derived through the PIP is de-linked from the BPL.

Community Funds as Resources in Perpetuity –

• NRLM provides Revolving Fund (RF) and Community Investment Fund (CIF) as resources in perpetuity to the institutions of the poor, to strengthen their institutional and financial management capacity and build their track record to attract mainstream bank finance.

Financial Inclusion –

• NRLM works on both demand and supply sides of financial inclusion. On the demand side, it promotes financial literacy among the poor and provides catalytic capital to the SHGs and their federations.
• On the supply side, the Mission coordinates with the financial sector and encourages use of Information, Communication & Technology (ICT) based financial technologies, business correspondents and community facilitators like ‘Bank Mitras’.
• It also works towards universal coverage of rural poor against risk of loss of life, health and assets. Further, it works on remittances, especially in areas where migration is endemic.