1. Union Cabinet approves “PM Vishwakarma” Central Sector Scheme
Tags: Government Schemes
Union Cabinet approves new Central Sector Scheme 'PM Vishwakarma' to support traditional artisans and craftsmen of rural and urban India
An Overview of the News
The "PM Vishwakarma" scheme has a financial allocation of Rs 13,000 crore for a period of five years (FY 2023-24 to FY 2027-28).
Its main objective is to support traditional artisans and craftsmen, both rural and urban, who work with manual skills and tools.
Preservation of Tradition:
The objective of the scheme is to maintain the Guru-Shishya Parampara (guru-shishya parampara) of passing on traditional skills within the families of artisans and craftsmen.
Enhancing Quality and Access:
One of the goals is to enhance the quality and expand the reach of artisan-made products and services.
The scheme envisages the integration of these artisans into both the domestic and global value chains.
Benefits for Artisans:
Artisans and craftsmen will get official recognition through a "PM Vishwakarma" certificate and an identity card.
Financial assistance will be provided, with a credit available up to Rs. 1 lakh (1st installment) and Rs 2 lakh (2nd installment), which includes a concessional interest rate of 5%.
Opportunities for skill improvement, toolkit incentives, incentives for digital transactions, and marketing support are also part of the plan.
Business Coverage:
Initially, the scheme will cover eighteen traditional trades under the "PM Vishwakarma" umbrella.
These trades include carpenter, boat builder, gunsmith, blacksmith, hammer and tool kit maker, repairman, hearse, potter, sculptor (sculptor, stone carver), stonecutter, cobbler (charmkar)/shoemaker/ Footwear Artisans, Masons, Basket/Mat/Broom Makers/Coir Weavers, Doll and Toy Makers (Traditional), Barbers, Malabars, Washermen, Tailors, Fishing Net Makers
2. Government of India launched 'Meri Mati Mera Desh Campaign'
Tags: Government Schemes
To mark the completion of 75 years of independence, Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) was celebrated as a people-led initiative.
The Government of India launched the 'Meri Mati Mera Desh Campaign' to continue the AKAM festival.
An Overview of the News
Various activities were organised in and around Delhi from 9th to 15th August 2023 in line with the campaign's theme.
Establishment of Amrit Vatika: 'Amrit Vatika' was created at each station to revive the environment and rejuvenate the earth ('Vasudha Vandhan'), planted 75 saplings of native species to symbolise the nation's connection with nature.
Panch Pran Pledge: All the participants took the 'Panch Pran pledge, emphasising the commitment to the environment and sustainable living.
Air Force Station Arjangarh:
Establishment of 'Amrit Vatika' at Baba Mangal Das Park, Aya Nagar.
Ved Pal (Consultant & Municipal President) cooperated with station authorities for a successful event.
Bovapur Village near Air Force Station Hindon:
'Amrit Vatika' was built around 'Amrit Sarovar' near Air Force Station Hindon.
Joint Director of Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan Prabhat Kumar assisted the station officials.
Air Force Station Palam:
The drive was carried out at the Indo-Korean Friendship Park near the station.
In association with Sunil Kataria, Delhi Cantonment Board.
'Veeron Ka Vandan' initiative on 15th August 2023 in honour of freedom fighters.
Felicitation Program:
Participation of retired personnel from the Armed Forces, Central, and State Police.
Highlighting the importance of the campaign, a felicitation program was organised.
3. Jammu to Spearhead India's first Cannabis Medicine Project
Tags: Government Schemes
CSIR-IIIM Jammu is all set to lead India's first cannabis medicine project, a pioneering initiative by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
An Overview of the News
ThisCannabis Medicine project, initiated in collaboration with Canadian firm IndusScan, aims to explore the medicinal potential of cannabis to benefit patients with neuropathy, cancer and epilepsy, known for its abuse potential.
The collaboration between CSIR-IIIM Jammu and IndusScan is historic and of great importance to J&K and the country as a whole. It has the potential to revolutionise drug production in India, enabling the country to produce and export drugs that were earlier sourced from abroad.
The project will play a vital role in raising awareness about the diverse medicinal applications of cannabis, especially in providing relief to patients suffering from fatal diseases and various other ailments.
In the context of Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India), once all the necessary approvals are received, the initiative will be launched to market high-quality drugs suitable for the treatment of neuropathy, diabetic pain and others.
enable production. This will encourage self-reliance in the pharmaceutical sector.
CSIR-IIIM (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research - Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine):
It is located in Jammu, India, and is a part of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
CSIR-IIIM focuses on research in medicinal chemistry, natural products, herbal medicines, drug discovery and integrative medicine.
The institute aims to develop innovative solutions to health challenges by combining traditional knowledge with modern scientific techniques.
CSIR-IIIM collaborates with national and international research organisations, academic institutions and pharmaceutical companies to further its research goals and contribute to India's scientific progress and healthcare sector.
Chief Scientist, CSIR-IIIM Jammu - Dr. Zabir Ahmed
About Medical Cannabis
The FDA approved cannabis-derived drugs such as Marinol/Nabilone and Cesamet to effectively manage nausea and vomiting in patients.
Sativex, another FDA-approved drug, uses cannabis to treat neuropathic pain and spasms, bringing relief to those suffering from these conditions.
Epidiolex containing cannabidiol has shown promising results in the treatment of epilepsy, offering new possibilities for patients with the condition.
Besides the United States, other countries are also exploring various medical applications of cannabis, taking advantage of its potential to treat various health conditions.
4. For the first time in India, the Rajasthan government introduced the Rajasthan Platform Based Gig Workers Bill, 2023
Tags: Government Schemes
The Rajasthan government has introduced the Rajasthan Platform-Based Gig Workers Bill, 2023, making it the first state in India to ensure social security assurance for gig workers.
An Overview of the News
As part of this initiative, Rajasthan platform based Gig Workers Welfare Board will be set up to support gig workers in the state.
The Welfare Board will enable gig workers to register with all state aggregators, thereby ensuring better access to opportunities and benefits.
An integrated fee deduction mechanism will be set up within aggregator apps, and non-compliance with the provisions of the Bill will attract a fine of ₹5 lakh for the first offence and ₹50 lakh for subsequent offences.
Gig workers will be empowered with a standardized unique ID applicable across all platforms, giving them access to various social security programs and allowing them to effectively raise grievances.
Gig workers will be represented on the board, giving them a say in decision-making processes related to their well-being.
India's gig workforce is expected to reach 23.5 million by 2030, and recognizing their importance, the Social Security Code (2020) has a dedicated section for gig workers, ensuring they receive social security benefits.
About Rajasthan
It is bordered by five other Indian states: Punjab to the north; Haryana and Uttar Pradesh in the northeast; Madhya Pradesh in the southeast; and Gujarat in the southwest.
Rajasthan is also home to three national tiger reserves, Ranthambore National Park in Sawai Madhopur, Sariska Tiger Reserve in Alwar and Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve in Kota.
The state was formed on 30 March 1949 when Rajputana was merged with the Dominion of India.
Capital- Jaipur
District - 33 (7 Circle)
Governor - Kalraj Mishra
Chief Minister - Ashok Gehlot (INC)
Legislative Assembly - Rajasthan Legislative Assembly (200 seats)
Rajya Sabha - 10 seats
Lok Sabha - 25 seats
Chief Justice of Rajasthan High Court: Augustine George Masih.
5. Delhi launches first 'Water ATM' to provide clean water in water-scarce areas
Tags: Government Schemes
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal recently inaugurated the city's first 'Water ATM', which aims to provide clean water to areas lacking piped water supply.
An Overview of the News
The 'Water ATM' initiative aims to reduce dependence on water tankers and ensure that underprivileged sections of society have access to the same quality of reverse osmosis (RO) water as more affluent areas.
The Delhi government, through the Delhi Jal Board, plans to tackle water scarcity by setting up 500 RO plants with integrated 'water ATM machines' in areas facing water supply issues.
Each of the 500 RO plants will have a capacity of 30,000 litres and will be strategically located depending on the availability of tubewells. The government will provide the necessary land, and the cost of ₹10 lakh per plant will be borne by the Delhi Jal Board.
Beneficiaries of this initiative will receive RFID cards from DJB, which will give them access to a daily free water quota of 20 litres. Usage beyond this limit will attract a charge of 8 paise per litre.
The initiative is led by Delhi's Water Minister, Saurabh Bhardwaj and aims to ensure free and safe access to clean drinking water for residents of areas facing water scarcity.
6. Odisha CM approves Mission Shakti scooter scheme
Tags: Government Schemes
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik approved the Mission Shakti Scooter Scheme, a scheme designed to provide interest subsidy to beneficiaries on bank loans up to Rs 1,00,000 to buy scooters.
An Overview of the News
The initiative targets Mission Shakti federation leaders and community support staff, providing affordable access to two-wheelers. This is expected to increase their efficiency, effectiveness and reach within the community.
The scheme aims to benefit about 75,000 community support staff members of Self Help Groups (SHGs) and about 1,25,000 federation leaders associated with SHGs.
For the next five years, the state government has allocated a budget of Rs 528.55 crore to implement the Mission Shakti scooter scheme while ensuring wider reach. The goal is to empower a large number of Community Support Staff and Executive Committee (EC) members across the state.
Mission Shakti:
It was launched on 8 March 2001 by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
It is a state sponsored program that empowers women in Odisha through Self Help Group approach.
The program emphasises the importance of SHGs and their federations in providing social security and driving social action in various areas such as health, nutrition, sanitation and gender-related issues.
Mission Shakti provides a platform for women to achieve economic independence and promote collective development, furthering their empowerment in the society.
About Odisha
Formation - 1 April 1936
Capital - Bhubaneswar
Governor - Ganeshi Lal
Chief Minister - Naveen Patnaik
Rajya Sabha - 10 seats
Lok Sabha - 21 seats
7. Nai Manzil Scheme
Tags: Government Schemes
Nai Manzil Scheme, a Central Sector Scheme (CSS), was launched on 8 August 2015 with 50% funding from the World Bank.
An Overview of the News
- It primarily targets minority youth who do not have a formal school-leaving certificate, such as school dropouts or those educated in community institutions such as madrassas.
- Nai Manzil Scheme offers a combination of skill development training along with formal education up to class VIII or X. This comprehensive approach enables the beneficiaries to find better employment opportunities and better livelihood.
- The initial target of the scheme was to benefit 1,00,000 beneficiaries, and the ministry allocated 99,980 slots for the purpose. So far 98,712 beneficiaries have been successfully trained under the scheme.
- The government has implemented various schemes for the welfare and upliftment of all sections of the society including minorities, with special focus on the economically weaker and less privileged persons. These schemes are run by several ministries like Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Textiles, Culture, Women and Child Development and Rural Development.
- The Ministry of Minority Affairs implements schemes exclusively for the empowerment of six centrally notified minority communities across the country. The objective of these schemes is to raise their socio-economic and educational status.
8. Union Minister released 'Swachhata Chronicles: Transformative Tales from India'
Tags: Government Schemes
Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat released 'Swachhata Chronicles: Transformative Tales from India', a compendium of 75 ODF Plus best practices to promote innovation and cross learning, during the National Convention of Rural Wash Partners Forum (RWPF).
An Overview of the News
The anthology, titled "Swachhta Chronicles: Transformative Tales from India", showcases innovative approaches, measures to overcome bottlenecks, awareness raising efforts and special campaigns implemented by various States/UTs to achieve the targets of SBM-G Phase-II.
The Union Minister emphasised the importance of the compendium as a resource for the States and stakeholders working towards achieving ODF Plus. They believe that this serves as an inspiration for others to replicate successful practices.
This collection was developed by the Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin IEC team and contains stories for each thematic pillar of SBMG Phase-II.
The stories in the anthology have been selected based on the following key criteria:
Innovation: Demonstrating innovative approaches used to achieve ODF Plus, such as community participation and leadership that ensured ODF Plus Model Village status for Suanlo village in Bhingarpur Gram Panchayat, Khordha District, Odisha, or how live models of ODF Plus assets (to effectively manage solid and liquid waste) helped Shravasti district in Uttar Pradesh achieve ODF Plus status.
Overcoming Obstacles: Highlighting the challenges faced and how they were overcome, such as Tamil Nadu's innovative mass cleaning initiative in Madurai's suburban panchayats.
Raising Awareness: Describing measures taken to raise awareness about cleanliness, such as the "Wash Vani" magazine promoting positive WASH behaviour by children in government schools in Fatehpur district, Uttar Pradesh.
Special campaigns: Discussion on special campaigns launched to achieve ODF Plus, such as Gujarat's "Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar (Clean Coast, Safe Sea)" campaign, which focuses on regular beach cleaning to protect the environment.
9. Empowering women: Himachal Pradesh CM launches collateral-free loan scheme - 'Sashakt Mahila Loan Yojana'
Tags: Government Schemes
On 20th July 2023, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu launched 'Sashakt Mahila Loan Yojana', a collateral-free loan scheme for women.
An Overview of the News
The initiative has been launched by the Himachal Pradesh State Cooperative Bank (HPSCB) and aims to help women fulfil their daily needs to realise their entrepreneurial aspirations, engage in livelihood activities and uplift their families.
The absence of collateral removes a significant barrier for women, especially those who lack valuable assets to offer as security for loan applications.
'Sashakt Mahila Loan Yojana' will provide financial assistance to women for self-employment and livelihood activities, which will contribute to their economic empowerment and financial independence.
Through this scheme, women can improve their socio-economic status, which will have a positive impact on their lives and community.
The Himachal Pradesh State Cooperative Bank offers three credit options under this scheme: Rs 21,000, Rs 51,000 and Rs 1,01,000, all at a relatively low interest rate of 8.51 per cent.
About Himachal Pradesh
Formation - 1 November 1956
Capital - Shimla and Dharamshala (Winter)
District - 12
Governor- Shiv Pratap Shukla
Chief Minister - Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu
Rajya Sabha - 3 seats
Lok Sabha - 4 seats
Symbol of Himachal Pradesh
Bird - Western Tragopan
Fish - Golden Mahseer
Flowers - Pink Rhododendron
Mammal - Snow Leopard
Tree - Deodar Cedar
10. Assam government launched "Gajah Kotha" campaign
Tags: Government Schemes
Assam launched "Gajah Kotha" campaign to address the growing problem of Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC).
An Overview of the News
The "Gajah Kotha" campaign involves over 1,200 participants and aims to promote coexistence between humans and elephants.
The focus of the campaign is on HEC affected villages in Eastern Assam.
The main objective is to educate the residents about elephant behaviour, ecology and the cultural importance of elephants in the region.
The campaign emphasizes the importance of conservation efforts in reducing HEC.
Aranyak, a renowned wildlife NGO based in Guwahati is leading the campaign.
The British Asian Trust and the Assam Forest Department are collaborating on this initiative.
The Darwin Initiative is providing support for the expedition.
The launch of the "Gajah Kotha" campaign reflects Assam's commitment to promote harmonious co-existence between humans and elephants.
About Assam:
Location: It is a state located in the northeastern region of India. It is bounded by Bhutan to the north, Arunachal Pradesh to the east, Nagaland to the northeast, Manipur to the southeast, Mizoram to the south and West Bengal to the west.
Wildlife: Kaziranga National Park, Manas National Park and Nameri National Park
Language: Assamese is the official language of the state, but several other languages are also spoken, including Bengali, Bodo, and Hindi.
Formation (as a state) - 26 January 1950
Capital - Dispur
Chief Minister - Himanta Biswa Sarma
Governor - Gulab Chand Kataria
Rajya Sabha - 7 seats
Lok Sabha - 14 seats
