UPSC 2017-18: PIB Summary and Analysis Aug 08 for IAS Exam Preparation.
Yoga being widely adopted in De-Addiction Centers: AYUSH Minister
The techniques of Yoga are widely used for de-addiction and rehabilitation of drug users in de-addiction centres. Yoga helps in the de-addiction and rehabilitation of the drug users in de-addiction centres. The yogic protocol includes specific Asanas, Pranayamas, Shatkriyas and Meditation.
The Ministry of AYUSH has not set up specific de-addiction centres due to the fact that the yogic techniques are widely used in most of the existing de-addiction centres.
Roadmap for Next Three Years for Evergreen Revolution
The NITI Aayog has drafted the three years action plan for all the sectors including agriculture. The action plan on agriculture deals with remunerative prices for farmers and raising productivity.
Strategy chalked out for increase in production of pulses, use of wasteland, seed village programme and model contract farming are as below:-
Increase in production of Pulses
National Food Security Mission (NFSM-Pulses) is being implemented in 638 districts of 29 States in the country. The interventions covered under NFSM-Pulses include cluster demonstrations on improved package of practices, demonstrations on cropping system, distribution of High Yielding Varieties (HYVs), INM, IPM, resource conservation technologies/tools, efficient water application tools and cropping system based training for increasing production and productivity of pulses.
Under this scheme, new initiatives have been taken up during 2016-17 i.e., creation of seed hubs, breeder seed production, minikit distribution, cluster frontline demonstrations etc.
Use of wasteland
PMKSY is principally for development of rainfed portions of net cultivated & culturable wastelands.
Seed Village programme
To upgrade the quality of farmer’s saved seeds financial assistance for distribution of foundation/certified seeds at 50% cost of the seeds for agricultural crops for half an acre per farmer was available up to the year 2013-14. From the year 2014-15, the financial assistance for distribution of foundation/certified seeds at 50% cost of the seeds for cereal crops and 60% for pulses, oilseeds, fodder and green manure crops for production of quality seeds is now available for one acre per farmer.
Certified Seed Production of Pulses, oilseeds, Fodder & Green Manure crops through Seed Village.
In order to enhance certified seed production of Pulses, oilseeds, Fodder & Green manure crops in the country, this component has been initiated from 2014-15. Under this component the financial assistance for distribution of foundation seeds at 75% cost of the seeds for pulses, oilseeds, fodder and green manure crops for production of Certified Seeds is available for the farmers.
The above schemes are demand driven and implemented by the States/implementing agencies for benefiting the farmers.
Model Contract Farming Act
In pursuance of announcement in the Union budget 2017-18, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare has constituted a Committee on 28.02.2017 to formulate a Model Contract Farming Act for adoption by the States. This Model Act on Contract Farming would address the constraints in promoting contract farming in a holistic manner by the States.
The agriculture and allied sector road map endeavours growth of agriculture for meeting food and nutrition security of the country.
Small Farmers Agri-Business Consortium
The Government established Small Farmers’ Agri-Business Consortium (SFAC) as a Society in 1994 to facilitate agri-business ventures by catalyzing private investment through Venture Capital Assistance (VCA) Scheme in close association with financial institutions.
Price Stabilisation Fund:
SFAC is one of the Central Procurement Agencies for pulses and oilseeds under Price Stabilisation Fund of Department of Consumer Affairs.
SFAC has made substantial impact in the agriculture sector. SFAC has emerged as a developmental Institution with its core aim and objective focused on increased production and productivity, value addition, provision of efficient linkages between producers and consumers. This has resulted in enhancing the yields and incomes of farmers/producers groups as well as created jobs in the rural areas.
The Government has reviewed the functioning of SFAC from time to time. Based on the review the annual action plans are formulated and associated budgets are released.
“There are 18 Biosphere Reserves in the Country”: Environment Minister
Biosphere Reserve (BR) is an international designation by UNESCO for representative parts of natural and cultural landscapes extending over large area of terrestrial or coastal/ marine ecosystems or a combination thereof. BRs are designated to deal with one of the most important questions of reconciling the conservation of biodiversity, the quest for economic and social development and maintenance of associated cultural values. BRs are thus special environments for both people and the nature and are living examples of how human beings and nature can co-exist while respecting each other’s needs.
There are 18 Biosphere Reserves in the country. List of Biosphere Reserves is given in the Annexure.
The Biosphere Reserve Programme is guided by UNESCO Man and Biosphere (MAB) programme as India is a signatory to the landscape approach supported by MAB programme. A scheme called Biosphere Reserve is being implemented by Government of India since 1986, in which financial assistance is given in 90:10 ratio to the North Eastern Region States and three Himalayan states and in the ratio of 60:40 to other states for maintenance, improvement and development of certain items.
Annexure
LIST OF BIOSPHERE RESERVES:
1) Cold Desert, Himachal Pradesh
2) Nanda Devi, Uttrakhand
3) Khangchendzonga, Sikkim
4) Dehang-Debang, Arunachal Pradesh
5) Manas, Assam
6) Dibru-Saikhowa, Assam
7) Nokrek, Meghalaya
8) Panna, Madhya Pradesh
9) Pachmarhi, Madhya Pradesh
10) Achanakmar-Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh-Chattisgarh
11) Kachchh, Gujarat
12) Similipal, Odisha
13) Sundarban, West Bengal
14) Seshachalam, Andhra Pradesh
15) Agasthyamala, Karnataka-Tamil Nadu-Kerala
16) Nilgiri, Tamil Nadu-Kerala
17) Gulf of Mannar, Tamil Nadu
18) Great Nicobar, Andaman & Nicobar Island
e-Shakti initiative of NABARD e-Shakti is a pilot project of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) for digitisation of Self Help Groups (SHGs).
It was initiated to address certain concerns like improving the quality of book keeping of SHGs and to enable banks to take informed credit decisions about the group through a Management Information System (MIS).
Floods in Assam
The State Government has framed Disaster Management Manual 2015, which has stipulated roles and responsibilities for various line department and district administrations for management of flood. All required arrangements have been made accordingly by the State/ District administration.
As per the National Disaster Management Policy, the primary responsibility for disaster management rests with the States. The prevention and rehabilitation of flood affected people in flood prone areas is required to be undertaken by the concerned State Government from its own resources/ Plan funds. The State Government is providing relief assistance and looking for suitable land to rehabilitation of flood affected people as per its existing land policy.
NDMA has prepared guidelines on flood management and assisted them in the preparation of their flood management plans.
GS Paper 1
Major cities of India are becoming vulnerable to flood conditions. Discuss. (UPSC Mains 2016 GS Paper 1)
GS Paper 3
Critically discuss NITI Aayog’s action plan on agriculture which deals with increasing of remunerative prices for farmers and raising productivity.
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