10 Nov 2021: PIB Summary & Analysis

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Nutrition Smart Villages
2. India Launches E-Amrit Portal on Electric Vehicles at COP26
3. India calls for commitment from the Global Clean Energy Community
4. Strategies for Ending TB by 2025
5. USA Becomes the 101st Member of the International Solar Alliance

1. Nutrition Smart Villages

Context: The programme on ‘Nutrition Smart Village’ has been initiated to strengthen India’s fight against malnutrition. This will also take the ‘Poshan Abhiyan’ flagship scheme towards further progress. It aims to improve the nutritional status of 75 villages across the country.

Objectives:

• The major purpose of this programme is to make the villages malnutrition free. Concepts such as Nutri-village/Nutri-food/ Nutri-Thali/Nutri-diet are important areas of focus.
• To create awareness about nutrition and behavioural change by educating farm women and school children in rural areas.
• The programme offers a platform for the exchange of traditional methods to fight malnutrition.
• To implement nutrition-sensitive agriculture by promoting homestead agriculture and nutri-garden and making use of technology.

This initiative will lead to the betterment of the overall nutritional profile of women and children in the rural areas who are vulnerable to the implications of malnutrition.

Also Read: National Nutrition Strategy

2. India Launches E-Amrit Portal on Electric Vehicles at COP26

Context: The Government of India launched the E-Amrit web portal on electric vehicles at the COP26 Summit in Glasgow.

Facts About the Portal:

• The E-Amrit portal acts as the one-stop destination for providing all information about electric vehicles and the myths surrounding them including their adoption, purchase, investment opportunities, policies and subsidies.
• The portal has been developed by NITI Aayog in association with the UK government to boost the UK-India Roadmap 2030. In the upcoming days, more features will be added to this portal to make it interactive.
• Objectives:
• The important purpose of the E-Amrit portal is to increase awareness about electrical vehicles and encourage people to switch to such vehicles.
• To ensure the decarbonisation of transport with the introduction of electric mobility that would assist in reducing the carbon footprint.

As India also celebrates Transport Day at COP26, initiatives like the launch of the E-Amrit portal will play a pivotal role in increasing the pace of zero emission vehicle transition and also address the challenges.

3. India calls for commitment from the Global Clean Energy Community

Context: In order to obtain access to sustainable fuels, chemicals and materials to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, India calls for assistance from the global community. The Government of India brought to the notice of the international community the aim to expand the R&D in sustainable biofuels and scale-up Integrated Bio-refineries under the Mission Innovation initiative.

About:

• While addressing the gathering at COP26, the Government of India delivered a clear message to step ahead actively for the development of bio-refineries with bio-based solutions and increase the production of sustainable fuels and chemicals. This would ensure the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions and establish a strong ground to introduce Clean Technology.
• Therefore, India aims towards a low carbon future that would account for the well-being of the people.

4. Strategies for Ending TB by 2025

Context: The strategies to bring the pathogenic outcome of Tuberculosis to an end were discussed in a session chaired by the Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare.

The Strategy Highlights and Areas of Discussion to End Tuberculosis:

• A significant emphasis was given to the introduction of innovative solutions to make up for the setbacks of COVID-19 and early detection of TB by expanding TB care through various methods involving the active participation of the stakeholders.
• The session pointed out the importance of elimination of tuberculosis and even amidst the pandemic, India managed to increase access to free molecular diagnostics and treatments. The tireless efforts of the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) have resulted in preventive and positive outcomes.
• TB is now a component of Comprehensive Primary Healthcare and is associated with the Ayushman Bharat scheme.

The Five Pillars to end Tuberculosis:

• Better and early detection of cases
• Improving treatment adherence
• Evolving ways to coverage with other social welfare programs
• Using and refining engagements with the private sector
• Integration of NTEP with the healthcare system

Read more on TB and National Strategic Plan for TB Elimination in the linked article.

5. USA Becomes the 101st Member of the International Solar Alliance

Context: The US Special Presidential Envoy, in the COP26 Summit, made a landmark declaration confirming the membership of the USA to the International Solar Alliance. USA’s membership will be a boost to the entire cause of ISA.

      The Importance of USA’s Membership in the ISA:

• India expressed its welcoming gesture to this move and looks up to this membership as a mode to strengthen the ISA by stimulating the future action plans assuring the provision of clean energy to the world.
• The US official informed the parties present at the COP26 that it has worked out the details of ISA and would like to contribute to the deployment of solar energy that would benefit the developing countries.
• Experts believe that this landmark membership of the USA in the ISA takes the significance of economic and energy potentials of solar power to the next level.

Read previous PIB here.

November 10th, 2021, PIB:- Download PDF Here