UPSC 2017-18: PIB Summary and Analysis Aug 01

Development of Cold Chains

Government is implementing Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) for development of horticulture including post harvest management.

Under the mission assistance is provided for development of all relevant infrastructure including pack house, pre-cooling units, staging cold room, cold storages, controlled atmosphere (CA) storage, reefer vans, primary/mobile processing units and setting up of ripening chambers etc. to promote logistic integration with the aim to reduce losses across total supply chain and enable farmers to access markets to get remunerative prices for their produce.

Agriculture Produce Market Committee

Ministry has drafted a model “The Agricultural Produce and Livestock Marketing (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2017, which provides for progressive agricultural marketing reforms, including setting up markets in private sector, direct marketing, farmer-consumer markets, de-regulation of fruits and vegetables, e-trading, single point levy of market fee, issue of unified single trading license in the State, declaring warehouses/silos/cold storage as market sub-yards and Market Yards of National Importance (MNI) so that more markets are available for farmers to sell their produce for better prices.

Facilities to Farmers

The Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers’ Welfare (DAC&FW) has taken up several initiatives in the field of agricultural extension which includes ‘Support to State Extension Programmes for Extension Reforms’ which is popularly known as ATMA Scheme, Mass Media Support to Agricultural Extension and Kisan Call Centres.

• The key objectives of ATMA scheme include setting up of autonomous institutions at the State/District/Block level, encouraging multi-agency and broad-based extension strategies adopting group approach to extension and facilitating convergence of programmes in planning, executing and implementation.
• This Ministry is also implementing various crop development schemes for increasing production and productivity of the crops in the country viz.
• National Food Security Mission (NFSM) on rice, wheat, pulses, coarse cereals and Commercial Crops (cotton, jute & sugarcane);
• Bringing Green Revolution to Eastern India (BGREI) and
• Crop Diversification Programme (CDP).

Under these schemes, scientific crop production technologies are being promoted at the farmers’ field through organization of cluster demonstrations and training of farmers with latest crop production technologies such as timely sowing, seed rate, recommended package of practices, etc. for reduction in the cost of cultivation.

National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP)

Under NMOOP programme, Transfer of Technology (ToT) component, assistance is provided to States for conducting Farmers Training and Trainers Training Programme, in which training is provided to the farmers and extension workers educating the farmers to avail the benefits of the programme.

Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) – ‘Per Drop More Crop’

This Department is implementing ‘Per Drop More Crop’ component of PMKSY. It mainly focuses on water use efficiency at farm level through precision/micro irrigation (Drip and Sprinkler Irrigation).

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an ecological approach which aims to keep pest population below economic thresholds level by employing available alternate pest control strategies and techniques viz. preventive measures, cultural, mechanical and biological control with greater emphasis on usage of bio-pesticides and pesticides of plant-origin like Neem formulation, etc.

The Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) envisages production and productivity improvement of horticulture crops like fruits (including apple) and vegetables through various inter.

Improvement in Breed of Cattles

In order to complement and supplement the efforts made by the States for development and conservation of indigenous breeds Government of India has initiated following programmes after detailed consultations with States and all the stake holders: i) Rashtriya Gokul Mission; ii) National Mission on Bovine Productivity;  iii) National Dairy Plan-I and iv) Breed Improvement Institutes.

Steps undertaken by the Government for development of cattle population in the country is as under:

(i)Rashtriya Gokul Mission has been launched December 2014 for the development and conservation of indigenous bovine breeds thereby enhancing milk production and productivity. The framework of the scheme is to enhance milk production & productivity through induction of high genetic merit bulls for semen production; field performance recording; strengthening of bulls mother farms; setting up of Gokul Grams etc.

(ii)National Programme for Bovine Breeding is being implemented for enhancing productivity of milch animals through extension of Artificial Insemination (AI) coverage. This is done through establishment of Multi Purpose AI Technicians in Rural India (MAITRIs); strengthening of existing AI centres; monitoring of AI etc.

(iii)National Mission on Bovine Productivity has been launched in November 2016 with the aim of enhancing milk production and productivity and thereby making dairying more remunerative.

Justice Krishna to head expert group on Data Protection Framework for India

Recognising the importance of data protection and keeping personal data of citizens secure and protected, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India has, on 31st July 2017, constituted a Committee of Experts under the Chairmanship of Justice B N Srikrishna, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India and comprising of members from Government, Academia and Industry to study and identify key data protection issues and recommend methods for addressing them.

The committee will also suggest a draft Data Protection Bill. Protection of Data is expected to provide big boost to Digital.

Challenges posed by rapid Population growth

Government is expanding health infrastructure and   human    resources,   besides   bringing   in new interventions to increase   the accessibility to health services.

The details of steps taken to stabilize increasing population are given below:

Steps taken to check the increase in population are:

• Mission ParivarVikas has been launched to increase access to contraceptives and Family Planning services in 146 high fertility districts.
• Introduction of New Contraceptive Choices: The current basket of choice has been expanded to include the new contraceptives viz. Injectable contraceptive, Centchroman and Progesterone Only Pills (POP).
• Redesigned Contraceptive Packaging: The packaging for Condoms, Oral Contraceptive Pills (OCPs) and Emergency Contraceptive Pills (ECPs) has now been improved and redesigned.
• New Family Planning Media Campaign has been launched to generate demand for contraceptives.
• Family Planning logistics management information system has been developed to track Family Planning commodities.
• Enhanced Compensation Scheme for Sterilization: The sterilization compensation scheme has been enhanced in 11 high focus states (8 Empowered Action Group (EAG), Assam, Gujarat, Haryana)
• Post Abortion Family Planning Services have been initiated.
• A Scheme for ensuring drop back services to sterilization clients has been initiated.
• A Scheme for Home delivery of contraceptives by ASHAs to provide contraceptives at the doorstep of beneficiaries is in operation.
• A Scheme to ensure spacing of births by ASHAs is in operation.
• World Population Day & fortnight as well as Vasectomy Fortnight is observed every yearto boost Family Planning efforts all over the country.
• Post partum Family Planning is being focused with special emphasis on Post partum IUCD services.
• Quality Assurance Committees have been established in all state and districts for ensuring quality of care in Family Planning.
• Male participation is being emphasized upon.
• Under National Family Planning Indemnity Scheme the clients are indemnified in the unlikely events of deaths, complications and failures following sterilization.
• Private/ NGO facilities have been accredited to increase the provider base for family planning services under PPP.
• As a result the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has declined to 2.2 (NFHS IV) and the Decadal growth rate has declined to 17.6

Production of Electric Vehicles

Government of India  approved the National Mission on Electric  Mobility  in  2011 and  subsequently  National  Electric  Mobility Mission Plan 2020  was  unveiled in 2013. Under the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan 2020, Government of India has an ambitious target to achieve 60-70 lakh sales of hybrid and electric vehicles by 2020.

As part of the mission, Department of Heavy Industry formulated a scheme namely FAME -India [Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles in India]. The overall scheme is proposed to be implemented over a period of 6 years, till 2020, wherein it is intended to support the  hybrid / electric   vehicles market   development and its manufacturing eco-system to achieve self-sustenance at the end of   the stipulated period.