10 Sep 2023: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. 19th Heads of Asian Coast Guard Agencies Meeting (HACGAM) in Istanbul, Türkiye
2. G20 leaders endorses Goa Roadmap and ‘Travel for LiFE’ program
3. DEPwD's Vision of Inclusivity: Transforming Lives with Innovative Initiatives

1. 19th Heads of Asian Coast Guard Agencies Meeting (HACGAM) in Istanbul, Türkiye

Syllabus: GS- II, International Relations

Prelims: Heads of Asian Coast Guard Agencies Meeting

Context: Indian Coast Guard participated in the 19th Heads of Asian Coast Guard Agencies Meeting (HACGAM) in Istanbul, Turkey.

• The forum aims to strengthen maritime cooperation among Asian Coast Guards and resolve to further bolster cooperation.
• HACGAM is an offshoot of the Japanese initiative to promote cooperation among regional Coast Guards, following the capture of the pirated vessel MV Alondra Rainbow by the Indian Coast Guard in November 1999.
• Subsequent meetings were held between 2000 and 2004, leading to the establishment of the Heads of Asian Coast Guard Agencies Meeting (HACGAM) in 2004. 
• The primary objective of HACGAM is to ensure and promote safe, secure, and clean seas in the region through cooperation between Coast Guards of member Asian states.
• The forum has four working groups – Search and Rescue (SAR), Environmental Protection, Controlling Unlawful Acts at Sea, and Information Sharing – to facilitate a focused and goal-oriented approach toward coordinated responses and synergy towards common maritime issues.

2. G20 leaders endorses Goa Roadmap and ‘Travel for LiFE’ program

Syllabus: GS- III, Sustainable Development

Prelims: ‘Travel for LiFE’ program

Context: The G20 Leaders Summit in Delhi was a significant milestone for tourism and culture.

• The summit endorsed the Goa Roadmap for Tourism as a vehicle for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• The roadmap focuses on five interconnected priorities: green tourism, digitalization, skills, tourism MSMEs, and destination management.
• The Ministry of Tourism has also launched the G20 Tourism and SDG Dashboard  in collaboration with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) to showcase best practices and case studies of sustainable tourism from G20 nations.
• The G20 Leaders’ Declaration also noted the launch of the “Travel for LiFE” initiative, which promotes responsible and sustainable tourism.
• The initiative envisions transforming and promoting the host cities of the G20 Meetings in India into global MICE (Meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) destinations.

3. DEPwD’s Vision of Inclusivity: Transforming Lives with Innovative Initiatives

Syllabus: GS- II, Social Justice

Prelims: ‘PM Daksh Portal

Context: Initiatives taken by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment for Persons with Disabilities for a more inclusive society.

• The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has partnered with the Council of Architecture (COA) to make universal accessibility courses mandatory in Bachelor of Architecture programs.
• This will help to conduct accessibility audits in built environments, ensuring compliance with accessibility standards.
• The department has released anonymous data through the Unique Disability ID (UDID) portal for research purposes, allowing for data-driven decision-making in the disability sector.
• The PM Daksh Portal has been launched as a comprehensive digital platform for Persons with Disabilities seeking employment opportunities, skill training options etc
• The Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities has introduced an online case monitoring portal, making the entire process of handling grievances filed by persons with disabilities paperless and efficient, featuring seamless online complaint filing, automated reminders, and simplified hearing scheduling.

Read the previous PIB articles here.