Tag: Govt – Welfare oriented Govt schemes

Govt – Welfare oriented Govt schemes, their utility Indian Forest & Wood Certification Scheme The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change has launched the Indian Forest & Wood Certification Scheme. Objective - to promote sustainable forest management and agroforestry in India. The scheme has three main components: Forest Management Certification Tree Outside Forest (TOF) Management Certification Chain of Custody (COC) Certification Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal will act as the scheme operating agency and will be responsible for overall management of the Indian Forest and Wood Certification Scheme

Govt – Welfare oriented Govt schemes, their utility Two lakh people helped under ‘Innuyir Kappom’ scheme The number of persons who have benefitted under the State government’s ‘Innuyir Kappom-Nammai Kaakkum 48’ has crossed two lakh. Launch – December 2021 A total of 692 hospitals — 237 private and 455 government facilities — were empanelled in the scheme.

Govt – Welfare oriented Govt schemes, their utility New portal NHAI projects Projects worth ₹40,000 crore being implemented by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) are being brought under the new Bhoomi Rashi portal. All processes, from the first notification under Section 3A of the National Highways Act, 1956 to the acquisition, survey, hearing of objections, declaration of acquisition, taking possession of the land, fixing the compensation for the landowner, and payment, are carried out on the portal. Bhoomi Rashi portal aims to digitize the land acquisition process for National Highway (NH) Projects. SATHEE portal Education Ministry officials directed all States to encourage aspirants to utilise the newly launched portal — SATHEE (Self Assessment Test and Help for Entrance Exams) for exam preparation. It has been launched by the Education Ministry and the IIT Kanpur. SATHEE is an open learning platform available to students free.   

India’s Foreign Policy India – Sri Lanka IMBL Meeting The 33rd edition of annual International Maritime Boundary Line meeting was held between the representatives of the Navies and Coast Guards of India and Sri Lanka. The meeting was held onboard INS Sumitra at the Indo-Sri Lanka Maritime Boundary Line, off Point Calimere in the Palk Bay. The meeting involved discussions on maritime security in the Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar region, safety of fishermen and measures to curtail trafficking of contraband, among other issues. Govt – Welfare oriented Govt schemes, their utility Over 3,300 government school students apply for CLAT through Naan Mudhalvan scheme The Tamil Nadu government had released about ₹1.3 crore under the Naan Mudhalvan scheme to take care of the application fee of ₹4,000 for the national level entrance exam. Around 3,377 government school students have applied for Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) under the initiative. About Naan Mudhalvan Scheme Launch - March 1, 2022. Aim - To empower the youth of the State to gain industry-relevant employable skills. EESL Launches initiatives to transform cooking practices Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) launches two initiatives National Efficient Cooking Programme and Energy Efficient Fans Programme These initiatives are aimed at revolutionizing cooking practices in India and emphasizing on the importance and urgency of energy efficient fans. About National Efficient Cooking Programme (NECP) Aim - To deploy 20 Lakh induction cook-stoves across India. NECP focuses on Non-Solar/Electricity-based Induction Cook stoves, aligning with the Go- electric initiative by the Ministry of Power. About Energy Efficient Fans Programme (EEFP) Aim - To encouraging the adoption of energy-efficient appliances, such as LED bulbs, tube lights, and high-performance fans. About Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) Launch – 2009 It is promoted by Ministry of Power Joint Venture of 4 public-sector undertakings National…

Govt – Welfare oriented Govt schemes, their utility Free ration scheme to be extended for five more years The Union government’s scheme the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) was initially slated to end in December, 2023 will be extended for another five years. About PMGKAY Launch – 2020 (during pandemic) The scheme aims to provide 5 kg of free food grains per beneficiary a month in addition to the 5 kg of subsidised food grains they were entitled to under the National Food Security Act. Government hospitals have earned 50% of the claims under CM’s insurance scheme in 2023-24 According to a document issued by the Tamil Nadu Health Systems Project (TNHSP), under the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme (CMCHIS) ₹723 crore claims have been made so far in 2023. Of this around ₹361 crore has been paid to the government hospitals which is 50% of the total claims so far during 2023-24. About CMCHIS Launched - July 2009 The Scheme provides health insurance on a large scale to low-income, underprivileged families Note Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) (launched on 23rd September, 2018) is a health insurance scheme at National Level. Tamil Nadu was awarded the Best Practices Award for ‘effective utilisation of government funds’ under the integrated Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) - CMCHIS.

Recent Court Verdicts Supreme Court ruling on Manual Scavenging Supreme Court Bench headed by Justice S.R. Bhat held the Union and States duty-bound to the pledge to completely eradicate manual scavenging through the stringent implementation of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013. The court enhanced the compensation payable for sewer deaths to ₹30 lakh from the earlier ₹10 lakh. Note Manual Scavenging was banned in India since 1993 with the introduction of Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1993 Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013. Supreme Court had reinforced the prohibition and directed the rehabilitation of people, engaged in the manual scavenging in its judgment in Safai Karamchari Andolan and others vs. Union of India. National Commission for Safai Karamcharis (NCSK) was constituted in 1993 under NCSK Act, 1993 Govt – Welfare oriented Govt schemes, their utility Vishwakarma Scheme launched in TN The Vishwakarma scheme has been launched in 7 districts of Tamil Nadu and 9 thousand 246 beneficiaries have registered so far to benefit from the scheme. About Vishwakarma scheme Launch - September 17, 2023. Central Sector Scheme Objective - To support artist, craftsman and small business owner financially and help them to grow their business by providing them capital support. Nodal Ministry - Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprise. The scheme offers collateral free enterprise development loans of ₹1 lakh (first tranche to be repaid in 18 months) and ₹2 lakh (second tranche to be re paid in 30 months). Scope and Coverage: It encompasses 18 traditional trades in both rural and urban areas. Note The Tamil Nadu government has constituted a five member committee headed by J. Jeyaranjan to study the guidelines of the Union government’s Vishwakarma scheme.

Problems in Conduct of Public Elections Government panel to study simultaneous polls to LS, State Assemblies A committee has been formed under the headship of former President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, to look into the feasibility of simultaneous elections to State Assemblies and the Lok Sabha. Note  Holding simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and Assemblies would require at least five constitutional amendments which include  Article 83 relating to the duration of Houses of Parliament Article 85 relating to the dissolution of the Lok Sabha by the President Article 172 relating to the duration of the State legislatures Article 174 relating to the dissolution of the State legislatures Article 356 relating to the imposition of President’s Rule in States. A parliamentary panel and Election Commission of India had already examined the issue.  The matter now stands referred to the Law Commission for further examination. Govt – Welfare oriented Govt schemes, their utility National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) completes seven years. Seven years has been completed since the government unveiled its ambitious ₹20,000­crore National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG). About NMCG It was registered as a society on 12th August 2011 under the Societies Registration Act 1860. Acts as implementation arm of National Council for Rejuvenation, Protection and Management of River Ganga (referred as National Ganga Council) The Act envisages five tier structures at national, state and district level to take measures for prevention, control and abatement of environmental pollution in river Ganga  National Ganga Council under chairmanship of Hon’ble Prime Minister of India Empowered Task Force (ETF) on river Ganga under chairmanship of Union Minister of Jal Shakti (Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation) National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) State Ganga Committees  District Ganga Committees in every specified district abutting river Ganga and its…

Govt – Welfare oriented Govt schemes, their utility 9 years of Jan Dhan Yojana August 28, 2023 marks the completion of the nine years of the Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana (PMJDY). About PM Jan Dhan Yojana Announcement - 15th August 2014 Launch – August 28, 2014  A National Mission for Financial Inclusion to ensure access to financial services and provide banking services to all the households in the country.  Objectives: Ensure access of financial products & services at an affordable cost. Use of technology to lower cost and widen reach.

Govt – Welfare oriented Govt schemes, their utility Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme Chief Minister MK Stalin inaugurated the state wide launch of the Chief Minister’s breakfast scheme in Thirukkuvalai, Nagapattinam district. The scheme has now been  extended to all 31,000 government schools  across the State, benefiting 17 lakh students.  About the Scheme  Launched – September 15, 2022 at Madurai Objective - To provide breakfast to primary school children from 1st to 5th standard studying in Government schools on all school working days Aim - To reduce hunger, prevent malnutrition, achieve average height in children, prevent underweight in adolescents, prevent anaemia as well as vitamin B12 deficiency Evolution of Breakfast Scheme in Tamil Nadu  September 16, 1920 - Mid-day meal scheme in a Corporation School at Thousand Lights under Sir PT Thiyagarayar (Mayor of Madras Corporation) 1957 – Revival of Mid-Day Meal Scheme under K Kamaraj. 1982 - Nutritious Meal Programme under MG Ramachandran. 1989 – Serving of egg with nutritious meal under M Karunanidhi.  2013 - J Jayalalithaa adds variety rice dishes to the menu. 2022 – Chief Ministers Free Breakfast Scheme by MK Stalin.

Govt – Welfare oriented Govt schemes, their utility 'FloodWatch' app The Central Water Commission launched an app, called ‘Floodwatch’, which can forecast the chances of floods a day in advance.  It also provides a seven-day advisory on the chances of floods at various stations in the country. The app has a map of India with coloured circles at water stations across the country indicating the current risk of flooding. A ‘green’ circle indicates ‘normal’; yellow, above normal; orange, ‘severe’ and red, ‘extreme’.  Clicking on a circle shows the current water level at the station, the highest level historically attained the danger level and warning level. Note Floodwatch uses advance technologies such as “satellite data analysis, mathematical modelling and real-time monitoring to deliver accurate and timely flood forecasts”.