10 May 2020: PIB Summary & Analysis

May 10th, 2020 PIB:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Mission Sagar
2. COVID-19 Management
3. Shramik Special Trains
4. National Technology Day

1. Mission Sagar

Context:

India launched Mission Sagar to assist island nations in the Eastern Indian Ocean.

About Mission Sagar:

• India launched Mission Sagar as part of the government’s outreach initiative towards five Island nations in the Indian Ocean amidst the ongoing COVID-19
• Indian Naval Ship Kesari has departed for Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar and Comoros, to provide food Items, COVID-related medicines including HCQ tablets and special Ayurvedic medicines with medical assistance teams.
• Also, as part of the mission, INS Kesari would enter the Port of Male in the Republic of Maldives, to provide them with 600 tons of food provisions.
  • India and Maldives are close maritime neighbours with strong and cordial defence and diplomatic relations.
• COVID-19 related essential medicines including HCQ tablets were already sent earlier to Mauritius, Maldives and Seychelles.
• A team of select medical personnel was also dispatched earlier to the Maldives to augment their preparedness to fight this crisis.
• This deployment as ‘Mission Sagar’ is in line with India’s role as the first responder in the region and builds on the excellent relations existing between these countries to battle the COVID-19 pandemic and its resultant difficulties, said the Ministry of Defence.
• The deployment is in consonance with the Prime Ministers’ vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region ‘SAGAR’ promulgated in March 2015.
• SAGAR highlights the importance accorded by India to relations with her neighbouring countries and further strengthens the existing bond.
• The operation is being progressed in close coordination with the Ministries of Defence and External Affairs, and other agencies of the Government of India.

2. COVID-19 Management

Context:

Adequate health infrastructure and health facilities set up for COVID-19 management.

Details:

• The public health facilities dedicated for COVID-19 cases management are categorised into three categories as described below:
  • Category I: Dedicated COVID Hospital (DCH)
    • The Dedicated COVID Hospitals are hospitals that offer comprehensive care primarily for those who have been clinically assigned as severe.
    • These hospitals shall have fully equipped ICUs, ventilators and beds with assured oxygen support.
    • These hospitals shall have separate areas for the suspect and confirmed cases.
    • The Dedicated COVID Hospitals shall serve as referral centres for the Dedicated COVID Health Centres and the COVID Care Centres.
  • Category II: Dedicated COVID Health Centre (DCHC)
    • The Dedicated COVID Health Centres are hospitals that offer care for all cases that have been clinically assigned as moderate.
    • The Dedicated COVID Health Centres shall have separate areas for the suspect and confirmed cases.
    • These hospitals shall have beds with assured oxygen support.
    • Every Dedicated COVID Health Centre is mapped to one or more Dedicated COVID Hospitals.
  • Category III: Dedicated COVID Care Centre (DCCC)
    • The COVID Care Centres shall offer care only for cases that have been clinically assigned as mild or very mild cases or COVID suspect cases.
    • These are makeshift facilities which may be set up by the States/UTs in hostels, hotels, schools, stadiums, lodges, etc., both public and private.
    • These facilities shall have separate areas for suspected and confirmed cases.
    • Every Dedicated COVID Care Centre is mapped to one or more Dedicated COVID Health Centres and at least one Dedicated COVID Hospital for referral purpose.
• As of 10^th May, 7740 facilities in 483 districts have been identified in all the States/UTs that include hospitals and facilities of the State/UT Governments as well as the Central Government.

3. Shramik Special Trains

Context:

Indian Railway operates “Shramik Special” trains across the country.

Details:

• Subsequent to the order of the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding the movement of migrant workers, pilgrims, tourists, students and other persons stranded at different places by special trains, the Indian Railways had decided to operate “Shramik Special” trains.
• Passengers are being given free meals and water.
• Trains are being run by the Railways only after concurrence is given both by the State which is sending the passengers and the State which is receiving them.
• Social distancing is being observed in the trains with around 1200 passengers travelling in each of these “Shramik Special” trains.

4. National Technology Day

Context:

National Technology Day is observed in India on May 11 every year to commemorate the nuclear testing conducted at the Pokhran Test Range in 1998.

To read more about Pokhran II nuclear tests, check This Day in History dated 11^th May.

Details:

• A high-level digital conference on ‘Rebooting the Economy through Science, Technology and Research Translations titled RESTART’ will be organised by the Technology Development Board (TDB), a statutory body of the Department of Science & Technology (DST), and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on the 2020 National Technology Day.
• The conference will bring together scientists, technocrats, government officials, diplomats, WHO officials and dignitaries from national and international industry, research institutions and academic institutions on a single platform to share their insights on the role played by S&T in the global healthcare crisis.
• The conference also aims to discuss possible solutions that not only address the current pandemic but will also help humanity in facing future challenges.
• TDB, on behalf of the Ministry of Science & Technology, celebrates May 11 every year as National Technology Day to commemorate achievements of innovations and technological excellence in the country.
  • The day has a historical perspective as it was on May 11, 1998, that India achieved a major technological breakthrough by successfully carrying out nuclear tests at Pokhran.
  • Further, the first indigenous aircraft “Hansa-3” was test flown at Bangalore on this day.
  • India also performed a successful test firing of the Trishul missile on the same day.
• Since 1999, the day is being celebrated as National Technology Day.
• The celebration of Technology Day symbolizes India’s quest for scientific inquiry, technological creativity & innovations, and the integration of these developments into national socio-economic benefits and global presence.

Read more on the Technology Development Board on PIB dated 22 March 2020.

May 10th, 2020 PIB:- Download PDF Here

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