CURRENT AFFAIRS :  17-11-2020

Table of Content :

1. Laadli Scheme  

2.Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in India

3.Statue of Peace

4.PM-KUSUM Scheme

5.Expansion of Scope of PM-KUSUM Scheme

6.China set to construct railway up to Arunachal border

1. Laadli Scheme 

Recently, the Delhi government has given information that its Laadli Scheme is reeling under the effect of the Covid lockdown, with a significant slowdown in the number of enrollments in 2020.

Impact of COVID-19 on Laadli Scheme

• In the first six months for the 2020-2021 cycle, the scheme received 1,094 new enrolments which is well below the number of new enrolments in the 2019-2020 cycle, which was 46,660.

• During 2020-2021 less than expected number of new registration as well as renewal cases has been received by the Delhi government’s Women and Child Development department.

• The low enrolments and renewal will impact on future allocation of funds due to poor utilisation in the current year which will deprive many underprivileged girls of the much needed financial assistance under the Laadli Scheme.

About Laadli Scheme

• It is a scheme launched by the Government of NCT of Delhi in the year 2008.

• The scheme aims at:

• • enhancing the social status of girl child in the society as well in the family;

  • ensuring proper education to make the girls self-reliant;

  • ensuring her economic security and

  • protecting them from discrimination and deprivation.

• Under the scheme, financial assistance is sanctioned for beneficiary girls starting at their birth and then at various stages of their education up until the senior secondary level.

• The new babies who can benefit from the first stage of financial assistance, they have to be registered within a year of their birth, and they have to renew it at their schools at various stages of their education journey.

• Under the scheme, financial aid is provided through Rs 11,000 if born in hospital or Rs 10,000 if born at home, and Rs 5,000 each in further five milestones i.e. Class I, VI, IX, XI and XII.

Eligibility under the Laadli Scheme

• The applicant, i.e., the child’s parent must be a bonafide resident of the National Capital Territory of Delhi for at least 3 years preceding the date of birth.

• The girl child must be born in Delhi.

• The annual family income of the parents of the child must not be more than Rs 1 Lakh.

• The Laadli Yojana of Delhi is limited to 2 surviving girls per family.

Source: The Indian Express

2.Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in India

Recently, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced that it will set up a Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in India.

Key Highlights

• The Traditional Medicine Centre will be aimed at strengthening the evidence, research, training and awareness of traditional and complementary medicine.

• The new centre will support WHO's efforts to implement the WHO traditional medicine strategy 2014-2023.

• The traditional systems of medicine such as Ayurveda can play an important role in integrated people-centric health services and healthcare.

Need for Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in India

• The Institute of Teaching & Research in Ayurveda (ITRA) at Jamnagar (an Institute of national importance) and the National Institute of Ayurveda (NIA) in Jaipur (a deemed university) were inaugurated on the occasion of 5th Ayurveda Day.

• The exports of ayurvedic products from India had risen 45 per cent in September 2020 compared to 2019.

  • There has been a significant increase in exports of spices like turmeric and ginger, considered immunity boosters which shows the sudden boost in confidence in ayurvedic solutions and Indian spices in the world.

• The need of the hour was to bring ayurveda knowledge out of books, scriptures and home remedies and develop this ancient knowledge as per modern needs.

WHO traditional medicine strategy 2014-2023

 

It was developed in response to the World Health Assembly resolution on Traditional Medicine (TM).

 

The goals of the strategy are to support Member States in:

 

Harnessing the potential contribution of TM to health, wellness and people-centred health care;

 

Promoting the safe and effective use of TM by regulating, researching and integrating TM products, practitioners and practice into health systems, where appropriate.

 

The strategy aims to support Member States in developing proactive policies and implementing action plans that will strengthen the role TM plays in keeping populations healthy.

 

Traditional medicine refers to health practices, approaches, knowledge and beliefs incorporating plant, animal and mineral based medicines, spiritual therapies, manual techniques and exercises, applied singularly or in combination to treat, diagnose and prevent illnesses or maintain well-being.

 

Source: The Indian Express

3.Statue of Peace

Recently, the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Mod has unveiled ‘Statue of Peace’ in Pali, Rajasthan.

About Statue of Peace

• The unveiling of Statue of Peace marked the 151st Birth Anniversary celebrations of Jainacharya Shree Vijay Vallabh Surishwer Ji Maharaj.

• It is a 151 inch tall statue which has been made from Ashtadhatu i.e. 8 metals, with Copper being the major constituent.

• The Jain monk, who lived from 1870-1954, led an ascetic life and worked with dedication to spread the teachings of Lord Mahavira.

• • He worked fervently for welfare of the masses, spread of education and elimination of social evils, wrote inspiring literature-poetry, essays, devotional hyms and stavans.

  • He was an active supporter of the freedom struggle and the cause of swadeshi.

Source: LiveMint

4.PM-KUSUM Scheme

Recently, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has amended implementation Guidelines of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyaan (PM-KUSUM) Scheme.

Background

• The PM-KUSUM Scheme was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs in 2019.

• It is a scheme for farmers for installation of solar pumps and grid connected solar and other renewable power plants in the country.

• The Scheme consists of three components which includes:

• • Component-A includes installation of Decentralized Ground Mounted Grid Connected Renewable Power Plants;

  • Component-B includes installation of standalone Solar Powered Agriculture Pumps; and

  • Component-C includes Solarisation of Grid-connected Agriculture Pumps.

Key Amendments in the PM-KUSUM Scheme Implementation Guidelines

Amendments for Component-A

• The scope of the PM-KUSUM has been increased by including pasturelands and marshy lands owned farmers.

• The size of solar plant has been reduced so that small farmers can participate and completion period increased from nine to twelve months.

• The solar power projects smaller than 500 kW may be allowed by States based on techno-commercial feasibility to support small farmers.

• There shall be no penalty to Renewable Power Generator (RPG) for shortfall in solar power generation from minimum prescribed Capacity Utilization Factor (CUF).

Amendments for Component-B

• The MNRE will retain 33% of eligible service charges for nation-wide Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities.

• The ministry may release 50% of eligible service charges for the sanctioned quantity after placement of Letter of Award (LoA) for preparatory activities.

• The order allows either one or both of the following two categories to participate in the centralised tendering:

• • Manufacturer of solar PV modules or manufacturer of solar pumps or manufacturer of solar pump controllers using indigenous technology.

  • Joint venture of any of manufacturers mentioned above with system integrators.

Amendments for Component-C

• Under Component-C, individual farmers having grid connected agriculture pumps are being supported to solarise their pumps.

• The farmers will be provided solar panels and they will be able to use the generated solar power to meet the irrigation needs and sell the surplus solar power.

• The DISCOMs will buy surplus power from the farmers at the pre-determined rate to be decided by the respective State/SERC.

Source: PIB

5.Expansion of Scope of PM-KUSUM Scheme

Recently, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has amended implementation Guidelines of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyaan (PM-KUSUM) Scheme.

Background

• The PM-KUSUM Scheme was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs in 2019.

• It is a scheme for farmers for installation of solar pumps and grid connected solar and other renewable power plants in the country.

• The Scheme consists of three components which includes:

• • Component-A includes installation of Decentralized Ground Mounted Grid Connected Renewable Power Plants;

  • Component-B includes installation of standalone Solar Powered Agriculture Pumps; and

  • Component-C includes Solarisation of Grid-connected Agriculture Pumps.

Key Amendments in the PM-KUSUM Scheme Implementation Guidelines

Amendments for Component-A

• The scope of the PM-KUSUM has been increased by including pasturelands and marshy lands owned farmers.

• The size of solar plant has been reduced so that small farmers can participate and completion period increased from nine to twelve months.

• The solar power projects smaller than 500 kW may be allowed by States based on techno-commercial feasibility to support small farmers.

• There shall be no penalty to Renewable Power Generator (RPG) for shortfall in solar power generation from minimum prescribed Capacity Utilization Factor (CUF).

Amendments for Component-B

• The MNRE will retain 33% of eligible service charges for nation-wide Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities.

• The ministry may release 50% of eligible service charges for the sanctioned quantity after placement of Letter of Award (LoA) for preparatory activities.

• The order allows either one or both of the following two categories to participate in the centralised tendering:

• • Manufacturer of solar PV modules or manufacturer of solar pumps or manufacturer of solar pump controllers using indigenous technology.

  • Joint venture of any of manufacturers mentioned above with system integrators.

Amendments for Component-C

• Under Component-C, individual farmers having grid connected agriculture pumps are being supported to solarise their pumps.

• The farmers will be provided solar panels and they will be able to use the generated solar power to meet the irrigation needs and sell the surplus solar power.

• The DISCOMs will buy surplus power from the farmers at the pre-determined rate to be decided by the respective State/SERC.

Source: PIB

6.China set to construct railway up to Arunachal border

Recently, China has begun work on a strategically significant railway line near the border with India’s Arunachal Pradesh.

Key Highlights

• The new railway line will be the second major rail link to Tibet that will link Sichuan province with Nyingchi.

• The railway line will run right up to Nyingchi near the border with India, which it will link to both Lhasa and Chengdu, the provincial capital of Sichuan.

• The entire line will run from Chengdu to Lhasa, connecting the two capitals of TAR and Sichuan and cutting the journey from 48 hours to 13 hours.

Concerns for India

• The railway runs near China's southwest border areas which will largely improve the efficiency and convenience of military personnel and material transportation and logical supplies.

• The complex geological and climatic conditions and fragile ecological environment along the railway poses an environmental threat to both Arunachal Pradesh and Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR).

Source: The Hindu

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