05 Aug 2022: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Financial assistance to develop Regional Agricultural Produces
2. Medical Device Parks
3. Prevention of human trafficking in railways
4. ‘Badhe Chalo’ Movement under Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav begins

1. Financial assistance to develop Regional Agricultural Produces

Syllabus: GS 3, Agriculture; Food processing and related industries in India.

Prelims: Schemes for promoting Food Processing in India. 

Context: The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) incentivises the setting of food processing industries

Details:

The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) incentivises the setting of food processing industries through the following:

• The Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY) is a central sector umbrella scheme.
  • A component scheme of PMKSY is the Creation of infrastructure for agro-processing clusters, which is aimed at:
    • Development of modern-day infrastructure and common facilities to encourage entrepreneurs in setting up food processing units based on a cluster approach.
    • Creation of infrastructure for food processing near the production areas. 
    • To provide integrated infrastructure facilities beginning from the farm gate to the ultimate consumer.
• Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI).
• PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME), centrally sponsored scheme:
  • Under it, One District One Product (ODOP) approach is popularized
    • ODOP is run in partnership with the States.
    • It provides financial, technical and business support for upgradation of existing micro food processing enterprises.
    • ODOP approach is adopted to reap the benefit of scale in terms of procurement of inputs, availing common services and marketing of products.

Moreover, initiatives taken for food processing under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare are:

• 55 clusters of selected high-value horticulture crops were identified and 12 clusters launched, under the Horticulture Cluster Development Programme (HCDP).

For more on PF FME read here PM FME – Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises Scheme.

2. Medical Device Parks

Syllabus: GS 2 – Health; Issues relating to development and management of social sector/service relating to Health.

Prelims: Medical Device parks.

Mains: Key initiatives undertaken by the Government to boost the Pharmaceutical Sector 

Context: Final approval for setting up of medical device parks has been given to the States of Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh.

Details:

Provisions of “Promotion of Medical Devices Parks”: 

• Total financial outlay of Rs. 400 crore.
• The maximum assistance of Rs. 100 crore would be provided for one Medical Device Park. 
• Tenure of the scheme is five years, till 2025.
• The project will be implemented by a State Implementing Agency (SIA).

Various measures taken by the Government to boost the pharmaceutical sector and reduce import dependence are:

• Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for promotion of domestic manufacturing of critical Key Starting Materials (KSMs)/ Drug Intermediates (DIs) and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), providing financial incentives for 41 identified products.
• The Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Pharmaceuticals, ensuring financial incentives to 55 selected applicants for manufacturing of identified products.
• The Scheme for Promotion of Bulk Drug Parks for establishing Bulk Drug Park in three states.
• Scheme of Strengthening of Pharmaceutical Industry (SPI), to facilitate infrastructure support for pharma MSMEs and for technology upgradation of individual pharma MSMEs.
• The sub-scheme “Assistance to Medical Device Industry for Common Facility Centre” for establishment of Common Facility in Superconducting magnetic coil testing and research facility in Andhra Pradesh.
• The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Promoting Domestic Manufacturing of Medical Devices.

Read more on the PLI Scheme in the link.

Other measures taken by Government:

• To attract investments in this sector, the Government has allowed: 
  • 100% foreign direct investments (FDI) in the medical devices sector. 
  • 100% FDI in greenfield projects under the automatic route. 
  • For the brownfield projects, up to 74% FDI investments under automatic route and beyond that under government approval route.
• Setting up of Standing Forum of Medical Devices Associations, to deliberate on various domains with all the stakeholders.

3. Prevention of human trafficking in railways

Syllabus: GS 2 – Social Justice; Mechanisms constituted for the protection of vulnerable sections

Prelims: Operation ‘Nanhe Farishte’, Operation ‘AAHT’.

Context: This article talks about the steps taken against Human Trafficking in Railways.

Details: 

• Operation ‘Nanhe Farishte’ launched by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) for rescue of children in need of care and protection, who can be prospective victims of Human Trafficking.
• Around 750 Anti Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) have been setup by RPF to strengthen action against Human Trafficking.
• RPF has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Association of Voluntary Action (AVA) also known as Bachpan Bachao Andolan (an NGO), for assistance in training and capacity building and in implementation of sensitization and awareness campaigns.
• Operation AAHT is an all-India drive by RPF to take effective action against Human Trafficking through railways.
• Staff deployed in areas of mass contact have been sensitized and trained for identification of potential victims of trafficking.
• Cyber cells of RPF have been instructed for cyber patrolling in social media platforms to look for digital footprints/traces of human trafficking and to use the clues in action against the crime.
• The subject of “Human Trafficking” have been included in course curriculum of all training programmes.
• CCTV cameras surveillance in 5882 coaches and 861 Railway Stations for enhanced security of passengers.

For more on Human Trafficking read here What is Human Trafficking? What are its Causes? More for UPSC.

4. ‘Badhe Chalo’ Movement under Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav begins

Syllabus: GS 2, Governance; Government policies and interventions.

Prelims: ‘Badhe Chalo’ movement, ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’.

Context: The Ministry of Culture launched the ‘Badhe Chalo Movement’.

Details: 

• The objective of the movement is a youth-centric activation for greater outreach of ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’.
  • ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ is an initiative of the Government to celebrate 75 years of progressive India and the glorious history of its people, culture and achievements.
  • For more on ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ read here: Azadi Ke Amrit Mahotsav – Objectives, Significance & Key Highlights.
• It aims to connect with the nation’s youth and instill a deeper sense of patriotism among them.
• It is designed in such a way that the young generation of the country is encouraged to come forward and imbibe the true spirit of our democracy while celebrating 75 years of India’s independence.
• ‘Badhe Chalo’ will feature Flash Dances, where dancers will perform on a specially crafted ‘Youth Anthem’ in special locations in 75 cities.
• It will be held across 10 cities every day from 5th August to 11th August 2022.
• Through this movement, the Ministry of Culture also intends to amplify and support the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ movement. 
  • ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ movement calls upon every Indian to hoist a Tiranga in their homes between August 13th to 15th, 2022.

Read previous PIB here.

August 5th, 2022, PIB:- Download PDF Here