08 April 2020: PIB Summary & Analysis

April 8th, 2020 PIB:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA)
2. iGOT e-learning Platform
3. Madhuvan Gajar

1. Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA)

Context:

MCA allows  companies to hold Extraordinary General Meetings (EGMs) through VC or OAVM complemented with e-Voting facility/simplified voting through registered emails.

Details:

• Taking stock of the coronavirus situation, the MCA had earlier allowed all meetings of the Board of Directors up to 30^th June 2020, to be conducted through Video Conferencing (VC) or other audio visual means (OAVM) vide its notification date 19.03.2020, including meetings on items where the physical presence of directors is otherwise required.
• In furtherance of the Government’s objective of facilitating corporate compliances during the current lockdown period and other restrictions on account of COVID-19, the Ministry has issued a circular allowing companies to hold Extraordinary General Meetings (EGMs) through VC or OAVM complemented with e-Voting facility/simplified voting through registered emails, without requiring the shareholders to physically assemble at a common venue.
• The Companies Act, 2013 allows ordinary and special resolutions to be passed through postal ballot/e-voting route without holding a physical general meeting. However, in the present lockdown/social distancing conditions due to COVID-19, postal ballot facility cannot be utilized by the companies.
• The framework leverages the strengths of Digital India by using a combination of VC and e-Voting/simplified voting through registered emails to enable companies conduct their EGMs.
• As the meetings will be conducted over VC/OAVM, the facility for appointment of proxies has been dispensed with, while representatives of bodies corporate will continue to get appointed for participation in such meetings.
• This framework allows the companies to hold shareholders’ EGMs through VC/ OAVM without compromising on the other requirements of law.
• As an additional check, all companies using this option are required to maintain a recorded transcript of the entire proceedings in safe custody, and public companies are also required to host this transcript on their website for greater transparency.
• Further, all resolutions passed through this framework will be required to filed with the RoC within 60 days, so that such resolutions may be viewed publicly.

2. iGOT e-learning Platform

Context:

The Department of Personnel and Training, under the Government of India, launches a digital platform to train all healthcare and COVID-19 warriors of India.

Details:

• The e-learning platform is for all front-line workers to equip them with the training and updates in coping with the coronavirus pandemic.
• Appropriate training will also prepare them for the subsequent stages of the pandemic.
• The target group is Doctors, Nurses, Paramedics, Hygiene Workers, Technicians, Auxiliary Nursing Midwives (ANMs), Central & State Govt. Officers, Civil Defence Officials, various Police Organisations, National Cadet Corps (NCC), Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS), National Service Scheme (NSS), Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS), Bharat Scouts & Guides (BSG) and other volunteers.

About iGOT Platform:

• The platform delivers curated, role-specific content to each learner at his place of work or home and to any device of his choice.
• iGOT platform is designed to population scale, and will provide training to around 1.50 crore workers and volunteers in the coming weeks.
• To begin with, nine courses on iGOT have been launched on topics like Basics of COVID, ICU Care and Ventilation Management, Clinical Management, Infection Prevention through PPE, Infection Control and Prevention, Quarantine and Isolation, Laboratory Sample Collection and Testing, Management of COVID 19 Cases, COVID 19 Training.
• Through its customized approach COVID warriors can learn about critical areas from this one-stop source and respond to the prevailing and emergent situations, by keeping themselves updated in a real-time manner.
• The platform is well equipped to cater to the demands of unlimited requests of learning at any time anywhere.
• The platform can be accessed by following an easy to use manual for desktop and mobile versions, thereby making it accessible for all.

3. Madhuvan Gajar

Context:

Biofortified carrot variety developed by farmer scientist benefits local farmers.

Details:

• Madhuban Gajar, a biofortified carrot variety with high β-carotene and iron content developed by a farmer scientist from Junagadh district, Gujarat is benefitting more than 150 local farmers in the area.
• It is being planted in an area of over 200 hectares in Junagadh, and the average yield, which is 40-50 t/ha, has become the main source of income to the local farmers.
• The variety is being cultivated in more than 1000 hectares of land in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh during the last three years.
• The Madhuvan Gajar is a highly nutritious carrot variety developed through the selection method with higher β-carotene content (277.75 mg/kg) and iron content (276.7 mg/kg) dry basis and is used for various value-added products like carrot chips, juices, and pickles.
• Among all the varieties tested, beta-carotene and iron content were found to be superior.
• In trials conducted by the National Innovation Foundation, it was found that the Madhuban Gajar carrot variety possesses a significantly higher root yield (74.2 t/ha) and plant biomass (275 gm per plant).
• This variety was developed by farmer-scientist Shri Vallabhhai Vasrambhai Marvaniya.
  • During 1943, he found that a local carrot variety was profoundly used for fodder to improve the quality of milk.
  • He selectively cultivated this variety and sold this carrot in the market at a good price. Since then, he, along with family, is working for the conservation and development of this cultivar.
  • In the 1950s, he started cultivating this on a large-scale.
  • He also started distributing the seeds to other farmers in his village and adjoining areas in the 1970s.
  • During 1985, he started selling the seeds on a large scale.
  • Shri Marvaniya was conferred with a National Award by the President of India during the Festival of Innovation (FOIN) – 2017.
  • He was also conferred with Padma Shri in the year 2019 for his extraordinary work.

April 8th, 2020 PIB:- Download PDF Here

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