02 Feb 2021: PIB Summary & Analysis

February 02nd, 2021, PIB:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Chauri Chaura Incident
2. National Medicinal Plants Board
3. Centres of Excellence (CoE) Scheme of the Ayush Ministry
4. Agri India Hackathon (Kritagya Hackathon)
5. ATMA Scheme
6. One Nation One Ration Card Scheme (ONORC)
7. Aero India 2021
8. Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS)
9. World Wetlands Day
10. Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY)
11. TARA Scheme
12. Dudhwa Tiger Reserve

1. Chauri Chaura Incident

Context:

‘Chauri Chaura’ Centenary Celebrations.

Details:

• February 4^th 2021 marks hundred years of the Chauri Chaura incident that had led to Mahatma Gandhi calling off the Non-cooperation Movement.

Chauri Chaura Incident:

• The Non-cooperation Movement was going on led by Gandhi and the Indian National Congress.
• This was supposed to be a peaceful and non-violent movement wherein people would relinquish their government jobs and titles, stop going to government schools and colleges, not serve in the army and also refuse to pay taxes as an extreme measure.
• Launched in August 1920, it was aimed at attaining Swaraj or self-rule.
• The people readily participated in the movement and it saw partial success at least in the participation level.
• On 4^th February 1922, about 2500 people marched towards the Chauri Chaura market (Gorakhpur, UP) in order to picket a shop selling liquor.
• One of their leaders was arrested. A group of people then marched towards the police station demanding the release of the arrested leader.
• The police fired shots in the air hoping to disperse the crowd. However, the crowd became agitated and started pelting stones at the police.
• Things were getting out of hand and the sub-inspector at the station came forward and fired at the crowd killing three people. This incensed the people who then charged at the policemen who were heavily outnumbered. The police station was set ablaze by the people and all the policemen and officials inside were charred to death.
• Gandhi went on a fast for five days after the incident for his ‘role’ in the event. He withdrew the movement on 12 February officially since he felt that the people were not ready to take up a non-violent movement. He also felt that adequate training was not provided to the people to show restraint in the face of violent attacks.

2. National Medicinal Plants Board

Context:

The National Medicinal Plants Bard (NMPB), Ministry of AYUSH, under its Central Sector Scheme on ‘Conservation, Development and Sustainable Management of Medicinal Plants’ is supporting research & development projects on various aspects of medicinal plants to government as well as private universities/research institutions/organizations across the country.

Know more about the National Medicinal Plants Board in the linked article.

3. Centres of Excellence (CoE) Scheme of the Ayush Ministry

What is the scheme?

• Under the CoE Scheme of the Ministry of AYUSH, support is provided to reputed AYUSH institutions for upgrading their functions and facilities to levels of excellence.
• The Centres of Excellence selected under this Scheme are the institutions that are engaged in activities like Clinical Research, AYUSH Healthcare (hospitals), Research based on the fundamentals of AYUSH, inter-disciplinary research in areas like pharmacognosy and pharmacology, product development and bridging AYUSH and modern science.

4. Agri India Hackathon (Kritagya Hackathon)

Context:

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has started organising KRITAGYA – a national level hackathon in August 2020 to promote innovation in agriculture and allied sectors in the country.

Read more on the Kritagya Hackathon in PIB dated Sep 23, 2020.

5. ATMA Scheme

What is the ATMA Scheme?

• A Centrally Sponsored Scheme “Support to State Extension Programs for Extension Reforms”, popularly known as ATMA Scheme, is under implementation since 2005.
• ATMA stands for Agricultural Technology Management Agency.
• It is being implemented in 691 districts of 28 states & 5 UTs in the country.
• The scheme promotes decentralized farmer-friendly extension system in the country.
• Under the scheme, grants-in-aid are released to the State Governments with an objective to support State Government’s efforts to make available the latest agricultural technologies and good agricultural practices in different thematic areas of agriculture and allied areas to farmers.
• Scheme objective: The scheme aims at making extension system farmer driven and farmer accountable by way of new institutional arrangements for technology dissemination in the form of an Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) at district level to operationalize the extension reforms.
• ATMA has active participation of farmers/farmer-groups, NGOs, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), Panchayati Raj Institutions and other stakeholders operating at district level and below.
• Release of funds under ATMA scheme is based on State Extension Work Plans (SEWPs) prepared by the State Governments.

6. One Nation One Ration Card Scheme (ONORC)

Context:

The ONORC scheme is being implemented in the country for nation-wide portability of ration cards under the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA). So far, the facility has been enabled in 32 States/UTs covering nearly 69 Crore beneficiaries, almost 86% of NFSA population of the country.

Read more about the One Nation One Ration Card scheme in the linked article.

7. Aero India 2021

Context:

Curtain Raiser of Aero India 2021.

Details:

The Aero India 2021 event kicked off on 2 February.

Know all about Aero India 2021 in PIB dated Oct 7, 2020.

8. Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS)

Context:                                                                                    

The Government of Andhra Pradesh has informed that it has seized 435.80 MTs of Rice worth Rs. 1,08,95,000/- which was intended for the Public Distribution System (PDS) but was being exported illegally.

Understand the difference between PDS and TPDS in the linked article.

Steps taken by the Dept. of Food & Public Distribution to bring transparency and efficiency in the functioning of TPDS:

• The Department in association with all States/UTs had implemented a scheme on ‘End-to-End Computerization of TPDS Operations’, which inter-alia comprised:
  • Digitization of ration cards/beneficiaries’ data
  • Installation of electronic Point of Sale (ePoS) devices at all Fair Price Shops (FPSs)
• This was implemented for the transparent distribution of food grains to all beneficiaries under the NFSA.
• As part of these activities, 100% digitization of NFSA ration cards has been achieved in all States/UTs.
• Aadhaar seeding of almost 91% ration cards at the national level has been achieved so far.
• Besides, almost 92% of the total 5.4 Lakh FPSs in the country are distributing food grains through ePoS devices.
• At the national level, more than 70% of the monthly allocated food grains to States/UTs are being distributed to NFSA beneficiaries after their biometric authentication on ePoS devices.

9. World Wetlands Day

Context:

World Wetlands Day is observed on 1 February every year.

About the World Wetlands Day:

• 2 February each year is celebrated ‘World Wetlands Day’ to raise global awareness about the vital role of wetlands for people and our planet.
• This day also marks the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar Convention) on 2 February 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the shores of the Caspian Sea.
• The annual celebration of the Day started in 1997.
• The theme for World Wetlands Day 2021 is ‘Wetlands and Water’.
• The 2021 campaign highlights the contribution of wetlands to the quantity and quality of freshwater on our planet. Water and wetlands are connected in an inseparable co-existence that is vital to life, our wellbeing and the health of our planet.
• 2021 also marks the 50^th anniversary of the adoption of the Ramsar Convention.

What are wetlands?

• Wetlands are land areas that are saturated or flooded with water either permanently or seasonally.
• Inland wetlands include marshes, ponds, lakes, fens, rivers, floodplains, and swamps. Coastal wetlands include saltwater marshes, estuaries, mangroves, lagoons and even coral reefs.
• Fishponds, rice paddies, and saltpans are human-made wetlands.

Wetlands in India

• India has nearly 4.6% of its land as wetlands, covering an area of 15.26 million hectares.
• There are 42 sites designated as Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Sites), with a surface area of 1.08 million hectares in India. Get the list of Ramsar sites in India here.

Centre for Wetland Conservation and Management (CWCM):

• On the occasion of World Wetlands Day 2021, the MoS for Environment announced the establishment of a Centre for Wetland Conservation and Management (CWCM), as a part of the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM), Chennai, an institution under the Ministry.
• The Centre will help in building partnership and networks with relevant national and international agencies.
• WCM would serve as a knowledge hub and enable exchange between State/UT Wetland Authorities, wetland users, managers, researchers, policy-makers and practitioners.

10. Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY)

Context:

Amalgamation of Ayushman Bharat Yojana with State Health Schemes.

Details:

• States/UTs implementing AB-PMJAY have the flexibility to run their own Health Protection Schemes in alliance with AB-PMJAY at their own cost.
• Under this arrangement, the States/UTs may use Health Benefit Packages, common IT platform and empaneled hospital network of PMJAY.

Read more about the centrally sponsored scheme Ayushman Bharat in the linked article.

11. TARA Scheme

What is the Scheme?

• Technological Advancement for Rural Areas (TARA) Scheme is implemented by the Science for Equity, Empowerment & Development (SEED) Division, Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India.
• The scheme provides long term Core Support to Science and Technology (S&T) based NGOs to promote and nurture them as “S&T Incubators”/“Active Field Laboratories” in rural and other disadvantaged areas to work and provide technological solutions and effective delivery of technologies for livelihood generation & societal benefits.
• It focuses on innovation, long-term action, replicability and enterprise models, shift to non-farm and service sectors, etc.
• If a project is approved, core funding is provided for five to ten years which may be extended to 15 years.

12. Dudhwa Tiger Reserve

About the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve:

• It is a protected area in Uttar Pradesh that stretches mainly across the Lakhimpur Kheri and Bahraich districts and comprises the Dudhwa National Park, Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary and Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary.
• It shares the north-eastern boundary with Nepal.
• The area is a vast alluvial floodplain traversed by numerous rivers and streams flowing in south-easterly direction.
• In 1987, the Dudhwa National Park and the Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary were brought under the purview of the ‘Project Tiger’ as Dudhwa Tiger Reserve. The Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary was added in the year 2000.
• The protected area is home for tigers, leopards, Asiatic black bears, sloth bears, Swamp deer, rhinoceros, elephants, cheetal, hog deer, barking deer, sambar, wild boar and hispid hare.

Read previous PIB here.

February 02nd, 2021, PIB:- Download PDF Here