15 Mar 2021: PIB Summary & Analysis

March 15th, 2021, PIB:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP)
2. Tele-Law Initiative
3. Project RE-HAB
4. Conservation of Ancient Folk Cultures
5. Mission Sagar IV
6. Deep Ocean Mission

1. National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP)

Context:

The Government of India has initiated the National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP) with a view to address cyclone risks in the country.

About NCRMP:

• The overall objective of the Project is to undertake suitable structural and non-structural measures to mitigate the effects of cyclones in the coastal states and UTs of India.
• It is being implemented by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) under the aegis of the Ministry of Home Affairs, along with coordination from the respective state governments and the National Institute for Disaster Management (NIDM).
• The Project has identified 13 cyclone prone States and Union Territories (UTs), with varying levels of vulnerability.
• These States/UT have further been classified into two categories, based on the frequency of occurrence of cyclone, size of population and the existing institutional mechanism for disaster management.
  • Category I: Higher vulnerability States i.e. Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.
  • Category II: Lower vulnerability States i.e. Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Goa, Pondicherry, Lakshadweep, Daman and Diu, Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• The main objective of the NCRMP is to reduce vulnerability of coastal communities to cyclones and other hydro-meteorological hazards through:
  • Improved early warning dissemination systems
  • Enhanced capacity of local communities to respond to disasters
  • Improved access to emergency shelter, evacuation, and protection against wind storms, flooding and storm surge in high areas
  • Strengthening DRM capacity at central, state and local levels in order to enable mainstreaming of risk mitigation measures into the overall development agenda
• The World Bank is assisting with the funding for this Project.

Background:

• Of India’s 7500 km coastline, almost 5700 km are highly vulnerable to the impacts of tropical cyclones and related hydro-meteorological hazards and consequently to recurrent loss of life and properties.

2. Tele-Law Initiative

Context:

Justice Department releases 2nd edition of Voice of Beneficiaries on Tele-Law.

Know more about the Tele-Law Initiative in the linked article.

3. Project RE-HAB

Context:

KVIC rolls out Project RE-HAB to prevent elephant-human conflict using honey bees.

About Project RE-HAB:

• Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) launched a unique project of creating “bee-fences” to mitigate human – elephant conflicts.
• The pilot project RE-HAB was launched at four locations around village Chelur in Kodagu district of Karnataka.
• These spots are located on the periphery of Nagarhole National Park and Tiger Reserve and prone to human-elephant conflicts.
• The total cost of the RE-HAB project is just Rs. 15 lakh.
• Objective:
  • To thwart elephant attacks in human habitations using honey bees and thus reducing loss of lives of both, humans as well as elephants.
• RE-HAB is an acronym for Reducing Elephant – Human Attacks using Bees.
• Project RE-HAB is a sub-mission under KVIC’s National Honey Mission.
  • While the Honey Mission is a programme to increase the bee population, honey production and beekeepers’ income by setting up apiaries, Project RE-HAB uses bee boxes as a fence to prevent the attack of elephants.
• How it works?
  • KVIC has set up 15-20 interspersed bee boxes at each of the four locations in the passage ways of elephant-human conflict zones to block the entrance of elephants to human habitations.
  • The boxes are connected with a string so that when elephants attempt to pass through, a tug or pull causes the bees to swarm the elephant herds and dissuade them from progressing further.
  • Bee boxes have been placed on the ground as well as hung from the trees to block the passage of elephants.
  • High resolution, night vision cameras have been installed at strategic points to record the impact of bees on elephants and their behaviour in these zones.

Background:

• Nearly 500 people die every year due to elephant attacks in India.
• This is nearly 10 times more than the fatalities caused by big cats across the country.
• From 2015 to 2020, nearly 2500 people have lost their lives in elephant attacks.
• Out of this, nearly 170 human fatalities have been reported in Karnataka alone.
• On the contrary, nearly one-fifth of this number, i.e. around 500 elephants have also died in retaliation by humans in the last 5 years.

4. Conservation of Ancient Folk Cultures

Context:

To protect, preserve & promote various forms of folk art and ancient folk cultures throughout the country, GOI has set up seven Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs).

Some of the ancient folk cultures in India:

• Ancient folk cultures being preserved in Jharkhand are Faguwa Nritya, Turi Nritya, Paika Nritya, Hodopathy, Tribal dance (Karam Nritya).
• Ancient folk cultures being preserved in Bihar are Lok Gatha “Reshma Chuharmal”; Lok Gatha “Bihula Bishari”; Lok Gatha “Naradi”; Bidesia Lok Natya; Godana Painting (Madhubani), Lok Natya “Hirni-Birni”; Panwaria, Domkach & Sohar Khilona folk dance; Domkach folk dance; Jharni & Jhinjhia folk dance; Bihar Ke Paramparik Natya; Drupad Dhamar, Godna Geet, Sikki Kala, Tikuli Art and Madhubani Painting.
• Ancient folk cultures being preserved in Kerala are Poorakali, Malayankettu & Kannerpattu, Daffumuttu, Kanyarkali and Arabanamuttu.
• There is no dedicated scheme to preserve these particular folk art forms. However, these ZCCs organize various cultural activities and programmes all over the country on a regular basis for which annual grant-in-aid is provided to them.

5. Mission Sagar IV

Context:

As part of Mission Sagar-IV, Indian Naval Ship Jalashwa arrived at Port Anjouan, Comoros to deliver 1,000 Metric Tonnes of rice.

Details:

• This is the second visit of an Indian Navy ship to the island country within a span of one year.
• Earlier, as part of Mission Sagar-I, in May-June 2020, the Indian Navy had delivered essential medicines to the nation and had also deployed a specialist medical team to work alongside their counterparts and to render assistance for dengue fever related emergencies.
• INS Jalashwa, the largest amphibious ship of the Indian Navy, has been specially sent to Comoros due to its large carrying capacity.

Read more on Mission Sagar in the linked article.

6. Deep Ocean Mission

Context:

The Deep Ocean Mission is proposed as multi-ministerial multi-disciplinary programme with emphasis on development of deep sea technology, exploration of deep sea mineral resources and biodiversity, acquisition of a research vessel for exploration, deep sea observations, and capacity building.

Know more about Deep Ocean Mission in the link.

Read previous PIB here.

March 15th, 2021, PIB:- Download PDF Here