TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 2. ‘Samajik Adhikarita Shivir’ 3. Major Economies Forum on Climate and Energy 4. CPCB takes measures to implement the Single Use Plastic Ban
Syllabus: GS Paper 2- Governance- Government Policies and Interventions for Development in various sectors and Issues arising out of their Design and Implementation.
Maternity Benefit Act, 1961
Prelims: Provisions of the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017
Mains: Significance of Maternity Benefit Act for women empowerment.
Context:
- The National Commission for Women organized the final Law Review Consultation on the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 and the 2017 Amendment.
- The National Commission for Women is mandated to review legal and constitutional safeguards pertaining to women.
Details:
- The consultation aims to review and analyse the concerned legislation and recommend amendments to meet any shortcomings in the legislation.
For detailed information on the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017 refer to the following article:
https://byjus.com/free-ias-prep/maternity-benefit-amendment-bill-2016/
- One of the important suggestions made was to extend further the paternity leaves so that the burden of raising the child is shared equally between both the parents. Recommendations for incentivizing employers to promote maternity benefits, and encouraging the corporate sector for employing more women workers were also made.
- The experts also discussed the issue of women working in the unorganized sector, provision of crèche facility on a case to case basis rather than number of employees.
Syllabus: GS Paper 2- Governance- Government Policies and Interventions for Development in various sectors and Issues arising out of their Design and Implementation.
‘Samajik Adhikarita Shivir’
Mains: Schemes for the benefits of differently abled
Context:
- A ‘Samajik Adhikarita Shivir’ for distribution of aids and assistive devices to ‘Divyangjan’ under the ADIP Scheme of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India will be organized in Sonitpur District of Assam.
Assistance to Disabled Persons for Purchase/ Fitting of Aids and Appliances (ADIP):
- The ADIP Scheme is in operation since 1981 with the main objective to assist the needy disabled persons in procuring durable, sophisticated and scientifically manufactured, modern, standard aids and appliances that can promote their physical, social and psychological rehabilitation by reducing the effects of disabilities and enhance their economic potential.
- Under the Scheme, grants-in-aid are released to various implementing agencies (Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO)/National Institutes/Composite Regional Centres/District Disability Rehabilitation Centres/ State Handicapped Development Corporations/ NGOs, etc.) for purchase and distribution of aids and assistive devices.
Syllabus: GS Paper 3- Environment and Ecology- Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation
Major Economies Forum on Climate and Energy
Prelims: Major Economies Forum
Mains: India’s initiatives with respect to climate action
Context:
- Virtual meeting of the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate (MEF), hosted by U.S. President Joseph Biden.
- The meeting was attended by India represented by the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
- The MEF meeting was aimed at galvanising actions that are to strengthen energy security and tackle the climate crisis thereby building momentum for COP27.
Address by Indian Environment minister:
- India highlighted initiatives like the International Solar Alliance, and the Coalition for Disaster Resilience Infrastructure apart from its domestic efforts to mainstream renewable energy and adoption of low carbon policies across key sectors of our economy ranging from green hydrogen mission to e-mobility.
- The minister pointed out the fact that India’s annual per capita emissions are only a third of the global average and its cumulative GHG emissions are less than 4 percent. He called on the participating countries to adhere to their fair share of the global carbon budget.
- The Union Minister called upon the members of MEF to launch a global movement on LIFE i.e. Lifestyle for Environment.
For detailed information on this initiative refer to the following article:
https://byjus.com/current-affairs/life-initiative/
Syllabus: GS Paper 3- Environment and Ecology- Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation
CPCB takes measures to implement the Single Use Plastic Ban
Prelims: Single Use Plastic and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
Mains: Steps undertaken to phase out the use of SUPs
Context:
- CPCB has undertaken various measures to implement India’s commitment to ban identified Single Use Plastic items.
Single Use plastic (SUP):
- Single-use plastics, includes those plastic products that can be used only for one-time use before being discarded.
- Single-use plastic items include plastic bags (mostly less than 50 microns), water bottles, straws, coffee stirrers, cups, food and drug packaging plastic etc.
Measures undertaken to discourage the use of SUPs
- According to Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Rules, 2016, there is a complete ban on the use of packets which use plastic material for storing, packing or selling gutkha, tobacco and pan masala.
- Further, a recent notification prohibits manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of the following identified single use plastic items, which have low utility and high littering potential with effect from the 1st July, 2022.
- These include earbuds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for balloons, plastic flags, candy sticks, ice-cream sticks, polystyrene [Thermocol] for decoration, plates, cups, glasses, cutlery among others.
- To curb the supply of these items, directions have been issued at national, state and local level to leading petrochemical industries to not supply plastic raw materials to the industries engaged in banned SUP production.
- Directions have been issued to the State PCB to revoke consent that has been issued under the Air/Water Act to industries engaged in banned SUP production.
- Customs authorities are mandated to restrict the import of banned SUP items.
- CPCB is promoting the use of alternatives to SUP
- Example: CPCB has issued certificates to about 200 manufacturers of compostable plastic which can be used as an alternative to SUP.
- With a view to support the MSMEs, CPCB is collaborating with various institutions to organise Workshops for MSMEs to help them shift to alternatives to SUP.
To know more about – Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
Read previous PIB here.
June 18th, 2022, PIB:- Download PDF Here
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