05 Feb 2021 || FRIDAY

N.E.W.S.

DATE- 05 Feb 2021

NEWS 01

Topic- Schemes

One District One Product Scheme

Context:

To support the production of horticultural items under the “One District One Product (ODOP)” scheme and provide better nutrition to school children, the government may introduce Sunahri Kand, also known as orange-fleshed sweet potatoes, in the hot-cooked food scheme of and the mid-day meal scheme in primary schools.

Background:

• Under the initial phase of the ODOP programme, 106 Products have been identified from 103 districts across 27 States. • State Export Promotion Committee (SPEC) and District Export Promotion Committee (DEPC) have been constituted in all states and districts of , except districts of the state of West Bengal. Decoded Terms:

About the Scheme:

• First started by the Uttar Pradesh government. • ODOP is aimed at giving a major push to traditional industries synonymous with the respective districts of the state. • The objective of the ODOP is to optimise production, productivity and income, preservation and development of local crafts, promotion of art, improvement in product quality and skill development.

The main objectives of the One District One Product Scheme of Uttar Pradesh are as follows:

• Preservation and development of local crafts / skills and promotion of the art. • Increase in the incomes and local employment (resulting in decline in migration for employment). • Improvement in product quality and skill development. • Transforming the products in an artistic way (through packaging, branding). • To connect the production with tourism (Live demo and sales outlet – gifts and souvenir). • To resolve the issues of economic difference and regional imbalance. • To take the concept of ODOP to national and international level after successful implementation at State level.

Source: PIB

9651950301|| 1st Floor, Tulsiani Grace, Building Strachey Rd, Civil Lines, Prayagraj ||www.yuvaias.com||1

NEWS 02

Topic- Schemes

Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana

Context:

Employee’s State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has decided that in cases where the employer has shown “Zero” contribution in respect of an employee for some months before exiting him from the system, the relief under ABVKY for such period of “Zero” contribution, shall also be allowed.

What’s the issue?

• It was brought to the notice of ESIC that in some cases employers have struck off their employees from the rolls few months after actually terminating them from service. • During this period, ESI contribution was also not filed by the employers for these employees in the system. • As the relief under Atal Beemit Vyakti Kalyan Yojana is available only in case of unemployment of the Insured Persons, such employees though terminated from service became ineligible for relief under this scheme.

About the scheme:

1. It is a welfare measure being implemented by the Employee’s State Insurance (ESI) Corporation. 2. It offers cash compensation to insured persons when they are rendered unemployed. 3. The Scheme was introduced in 2018.

In 2020, eligibility criteria for availing the relief were relaxed, as under:

• The payment of relief has been enhanced to 50% of average of wages from earlier 25% of average wages payable upto maximum 90 days of unemployment. • Instead of the relief becoming payable 90 days after unemployment, it shall become due for payment after 30 days. • The Insured Person can submit the claim directly to ESIC Branch Office instead of the claim being forwarded by the last employer and the payment shall be made directly in the bank account of IP. • The Insured Person should have been insurable employment for a minimum period of 2 years before his/her unemployment and should have contributed for not les than 78 days in the contribution period immediately preceding to unemployment and minimum 78 days in one of the remaining 3 contribution periods in 02 years prior to unemployment.

9651950301|| 1st Floor, Tulsiani Grace, Building Strachey Rd, Civil Lines, Prayagraj ||www.yuvaias.com||2

NEWS 03

Topic- Schemes

Gram Panchayats Under Atal Bhujal Yojana

Context:

Atal Bhujal Yojana (Atal Jal) is being implemented in identified water stressed areas of seven States, viz. , , , , , and Uttar Pradesh.

Key-Points:

Atal Jal has been launched in certain States as a pilot scheme based on the consultation, criticality of groundwater situation, willingness and degree of preparedness.

However, proposals of inclusion of more water stressed areas within the scheme may be considered in future depending upon the outcomes of the scheme and its implementation status.

Source: PIB

NEWS 04

Topic- Schemes

Ganga Amantran Abhiyan

Context:

Ganga Aamantran Abhiyan, a rafting and kayaking expedition on the Ganga River from Devprayag to Ganga Sagar, was organised between 10th October 2019 to 12th November 2019.

Key-Points:

The expedition encompassed five Ganga basin States, i.e. Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal with stops at 34 locations including Rishikesh, Haridwar, Kanpur, Allahabad, Varanasi, Patna, Sonepur and Kolkata.

The expedition was undertaken through an adventure sporting activity to connect people to the river and to spread the message of river rejuvenation & water conservation on a massive scale.

During the expedition, public awareness campaigns were organised and interactions with people, in particular, youth and students of the village/city made on the various locations to spread the message of river conservation.

With the aim to integrate people’s participation and economic development for Ganga rejuvenation with various stakeholders who have a key role to play in this initiative including Agriculture, Power, Tourism, Energy, Water, AYUSH, Environment, Forest & Climate Change etc.

NMCG is working in an integrated manner with concerned Ministries/Departments and Government agencies to boost economic activities and tourism in the river Ganga.

9651950301|| 1st Floor, Tulsiani Grace, Building Strachey Rd, Civil Lines, Prayagraj ||www.yuvaias.com||3

Namami Gange Programme is conceptualised not only as a sewerage infrastructure development programme but also includes components of Communication and Public Outreach which are important for its sustainability.

For this purpose, dedicated voluntary groups like Ganga Vichar Manch, Ganga Doots, Ganga Prahari, Ganga Mitra including NCC, NSS, NYKS etc. at the grassroot level have been formed and their resources are channelized for engagement of the community and public at large.

Under the Namami Gange Programme, number of public campaigns and events are organised like Swachhta Pakhwada, Swachhta Hi Sewa, Ganga Yatra, Rafting Expedition, Ganga Utsav, Plantation Drives, Ganga Run etc.

Mass Congregation of devotees on the occasion of Kumbh Mela, Magh Mela & Chhath Pooja etc. gives an opportunity to demonstrate and describe activities being undertaken in the project for awareness generation and public participation.

Online Quiz competition is also organised to enhance the knowledge and involvement of the youth and students regarding Ganga and its ecosystem.

Source: PIB

NEWS 05

Topic- Schemes

Jal Shakti Abhiyan -II

Context:

Under Jal Shakti Abhiyan-I, officers, groundwater experts and scientists from the Government of India have worked with State and District officials in these water-stressed districts of the country to promote water conservation and water resource management by focusing on accelerated implementation of five target interventions, viz, water conservation & rainwater harvesting, renovation of traditional and other water bodies/tanks, reuse and recharge of bore wells, water shed development and intensive afforestation. With this campaign, huge awareness has been generated and various stakeholders, viz. government department, agencies, NGOs, officials, Panchayats, individuals, etc. have started taking steps for water conservation.

Key-Point:

Water being a State subject, steps for augmentation, conservation and efficient management of water resources are primarily undertaken by the respective State Governments. Central Government augments the efforts of the State Governments by providing technical and financial assistance to them through various schemes and programs.

Ministry of Jal Shakti has been implementing various schemes and programs like Atal Bhujal Yojana (Atal Jal), National Aquifer Mapping and Management (NAQUIM) Program, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana - Accredited Irrigation Benefit Program (PMKSY-AIBP), Command Area Development & Water Management (CADWM) Program, Surface Minor Irrigation and Repair Renovation & Restoration of water bodies (a part of PMKSY- Har Khet Ko Pani) etc and campaigns like “Catch the Rain” and “Sahi Fasal” with people’s/farmers’ active participation for water conservation and asset creation.

9651950301|| 1st Floor, Tulsiani Grace, Building Strachey Rd, Civil Lines, Prayagraj ||www.yuvaias.com||4

The "Catch The Rain" campaign launched by National Water Mission is an awareness generation program nudging the state governments and stakeholders to take up rain water harvesting structures appropriate to the soil-substrata and climatic conditions, with active participation of people. In collaboration with the "Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan" a massive awareness drive has been launched on 21 December 2020 involving Youth Clubs in 623 districts.

Source: TH

NEWS 05

Topic- R and D

Strategic Crude Oil Reserves

Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserve Limited (ISPRL), a Government of India Special Purpose Vehicle, has established Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR) facilities with total capacity of 5.33 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) at 3 locations, namely (i) Vishakhapatnam, (ii) Mangaluru and (iii) Padur. As per the consumption pattern of 2019-20, the total capacity is estimated to provide for about 9.5 days of crude oil requirement.

Source: TH

9651950301|| 1st Floor, Tulsiani Grace, Building Strachey Rd, Civil Lines, Prayagraj ||www.yuvaias.com||5