30 Jan 2021: PIB Summary & Analysis

January 30th, 2021, PIB:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB)
2. Pulse Polio Programme

1. Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB)

Context:

Wildlife Crime Control Bureau busts wildlife trafficking syndicates in Jammu & Kashmir.

About the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau:

• It is a statutory multi-disciplinary body established by the Government of India under the Ministry of Environment and Forests, to combat organized wildlife crime in the country.
• It is headquartered in New Delhi with regional, sub-regional offices and border units.
• Under Section 38 (Z) of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, it is mandated to:
  • Collect and collate intelligence related to organized wildlife crime activities
  • Disseminate the same to State and other enforcement agencies for immediate action so as to apprehend the criminals
  • Establish a centralized wildlife crime data bank
  • Coordinate actions by various agencies in connection with the enforcement of the provisions of the Act
  • Assist foreign authorities and international organization concerned to facilitate coordination and universal action for wildlife crime control
  • Capacity building of the wildlife crime enforcement agencies for a scientific and professional investigation into wildlife crimes and assist State Governments to ensure success in prosecutions related to wildlife crimes
  • Advise the Government of India on issues relating to wildlife crimes having national and international ramifications, relevant policy and laws
• It also assists and advises the Customs authorities in inspection of the consignments of flora & fauna as per the provisions of Wild Life Protection Act, CITES and EXIM Policy governing such an item.
• The GOI notified the Board’s formation in 2007 and it became operational in 2008.
• It was created based on the recommendations of the Committee on “Prevention of Illegal Trade in Wildlife and Wildlife Products” (1994) headed by Dr. S. Subramaniam.

2. Pulse Polio Programme

Context:

President of India launches countrywide Pulse Polio Programme for 2021.

Details:

• Polio National Immunization Day, observed on 31^st January 2021 (Sunday), is also popularly known as Polio Ravivar.
• Around 17 crore children of less than 5 years of age will be given polio drops as part of the drive of the Government of India to sustain the polio-free status of the country.
• The countrywide drive will be supported by about 24 lakh volunteers, 1.5 lakh supervisors and many Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), WHO, UNICEF, Rotary, etc.
• Healthcare workers will be visiting as many as 2 crore households to ensure that no child is left without the protection of the polio vaccine.
• Before the start of the program, India had 60% caseload of Polio worldwide. With the last case of Polio reported in Howrah on 13^th January, 2011, the country has been free of Polio for a decade now.

Read more about the Pulse Polio Programme in PIB dated Oct 22, 2019.

Read previous PIB here.

January 30th, 2021, PIB:- Download PDF Here