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By admin: Dec. 4, 2024

ESIC bags 4 certificates of merit at Regional Social Security Forum for Asia and the Pacific (RSSF Asia-Pacific)

Tags: Awards

ESIC bags 4 certificates of merit  at Regional Social Security Forum for Asia and the Pacific (RSSF Asia-Pacific) 

Why in the news?

• ESIC bags 4 certificates of merit in different categories at Regional Social Security Forum for Asia and the Pacific (RSSF Asia-Pacific) event of International Social Security Association (ISSA)at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on 03.12.2024.

Key points:

• The Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has been awarded one certificate of merit with special mention from the jury forits mobile application (Ask An Appointment - AAA+) and three certificates of merit for Occupational Accident and Disease, Sustainable Investment and System Resilience at the Regional Social Security Forum for Asia and the Pacific (RSSF Asia-Pacific).
• The awards were received by Shri Ashok Kumar Singh, Director General, ESIC on behalf of the corporation.
• This recognition further strengthens ESIC's international standing and reinforces its dedication to sharing best practices and enhancing the effectiveness of social security systems globally.

AAA+ (Ask An Appointment Mobile App):

• The ESIC ‘Ask an Appointment’ AAA+ mobile app, available on both Android and iOS, serves insured persons, beneficiaries, staff, and ESI pensioners, and is accessible in 8 languages, including English, Hindi, and six regional languages.
•  Designed to streamline healthcare services, the app allows users to book online appointments, check in without waiting in queues, and access their e-Health records.
• Over the past two years, new features have been added, such as Aadhaar seeding for beneficiaries, home sample collection requests, and eligibility checks for various ESI benefits.  

About ISSA:

• The International Social Security Association wasfounded in 1927,under the auspices of theInternational Labour Organization (ILO), Geneva.
• It is the principal international organisation for social security organisations, governments and departments of social security. 
• It promotes excellence in social security administration through professional guidelines, expert knowledge, services and support to enable its members to develop dynamic social security systems.

About RSSF Asia-Pacific:

• RSSF Asia-Pacific, anannual international gathering organized by the ISSA, is a key platform for discussing and exchanging knowledge on social security issues in the region. 
• It aims to enhance cooperation and expertise exchange between social security organizations in the Asia-Pacific region.

World's Largest Grain Storage Plan

Tags: Government Schemes

World's Largest Grain Storage Plan

Why in the news?

• The Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shahin a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha tells that under the Pilot Project, construction of 11 storage godowns in 11 PACS of 11 States with a total of 9,750 MT storage capacity has been completed. 

About World's Largest Grain Storage Plan:

• Under the Pilot Project of World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan in cooperative sector, godowns at Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) level have been constructed in 11 PACS of 11 States namely Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Assam, Telangana, Tripura and Rajasthan, with the support of National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) & NABARD Consultancy Services (NABCONS). 
• Out of 11 constructed storage 3 have been kept by PACS for their own use in the state of Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Telangana. 3 have been hired by State/Central agencies in the State of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.
• Further, the Pilot Project has been extended and more than 500 additional PACS have been identified as on 21.11.2024 across the country for construction of godowns under World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan in Cooperative Sector.

Important points:

• Under the Plan, subsidies and interest subvention are given to PACS through convergence of various existing Government of India schemes, like Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure Scheme (AMI), etc. 
• Under AIF Scheme3% interest subvention is provided for the project up to Rs. 2 crore with loan repayment period of 2+5 years.
•  Further, under AMI Scheme 33.33% subsidy is provided to PACS for construction of storage units. Moreover, under the AMI scheme Margin Money requirement for PACS has been reduced from 20% to 10%.
• Apart from assistance for Storage Infrastructure on Capital Cost (including ancillaries like Boundary Wall, Drainage, etc.), now there is additional subsidy to PACS on ancillaries that is restricted to a maximum 1/3rd of the total permissible subsidy of the godown component or actual whichever is lower.

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Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of India, developing National Legal Metrology Portal (eMaap)

Tags: National News

Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of India, developing National Legal Metrology Portal (eMaap)

Why in the news?

• The Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of India, is developing the National Legal Metrology Portal (eMaap) to integrate State Legal Metrology Departments and their portals into a unified National System.

Key points:

• Presently, State Governments are using their own portals for registration of packaged commodities, issue of licenses and verification/stamping of weighing & measuring instruments.  
• Therefore, the Department of Consumer Affairs is integrating all the state portals in one as National Legal Metrology Portal ‘eMaap’ which will include all functions of Legal Metrology including enforcement and help to get a unified database.

Objectives:

•  This initiative aims to streamline processes for issuing licenses, conducting verifications and managing enforcement and compliance. 
• By creating a centralized database, eMaap eliminates the need for stakeholders to register on multiple State Portals, fostering ease of doing business and transparency in trade practices.

Significance:

• eMaap simplifies critical procedures such as issuing, renewing, and amending licenses, as well as handling verification & stamping of weighing & measuring instruments, registration certificates, and appeals, etc.  
• For traders and industries, it minimizes compliance burdens, reduces paperwork and ensures timely adherence to the provisions of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 and Rules made thereunder, creating a transparent and conducive business environment. 
• The portal is also expected to significantly boost manufacturing growth by fostering efficiency and accountability.
• For consumers,eMaap ensures that trade instruments are verified for accuracy, enhancing confidence in market transactions. 
• It provides a transparent legal metrology system, allowing easy access to certificates and promoting awareness of rights and responsibilities. 
• For Governments, the portal enables data-driven decision-making, streamlines enforcement activities, and facilitates policy formation, ensuring a robust and efficient regulatory framework.

4G MOBILE SERVICES IN ASPIRATIONAL DISTRICTS

Tags: Government Schemes

4G MOBILE SERVICES IN ASPIRATIONAL DISTRICTS

Why in the news?

• The Union Cabinet has approved a scheme for provisioning of 4G Mobile services in 7287 uncovered villages of Aspirational Districts of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Jharkhand & Odisha by installation of 4,779 mobile towers.

What is the objective of the project?

• Above project aims to provide mobile coverage in all such villages in a phased manner. As on 31.10.2024, 2,177 mobile towers have been commissioned covering 3,352 villages.

About ASPIRATIONAL DISTRICTS:

• The Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP) is an initiative by the Government of India to improve the socio-economic status of some of the country's most underdeveloped districts.
• The program's goal is to transform these districts through collaboration, convergence, and competition:
• The ADP waslaunched in January 2018.
•  The program initially identified 112 ADs across 27 states.
•  The program is primarily driven by the states, which focus on each district's strengths and prioritize immediate improvements