Addapedia Odisha | Daily Current Affairs | 05 November 2024 | Download PDF

• The First Asian Buddhist Summit (ABS) is being held in New Delhi on November 5-6, 2024. 
• The summit is organized by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, in collaboration with the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC).  

Theme:

• The theme of the summit is “Role of Buddha Dhamma in Strengthening Asia.” 

Key Points:

• The summit aims to bring together Sangha leaders, scholars, experts, and practitioners from various Buddhist traditions across Asia to foster dialogue, promote understanding, and address contemporary challenges faced by the Buddhist community.   
• The President of India is expected to attend the summit as the Chief Guest.

• The PM Vishwakarma Yojana, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 17, 2023, is a government initiative to empower traditional artisans and craftspeople in India, known as Vishwakarmas.

About Vishwakarma Scheme:

• The Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Kaushal Samman (PMVKYS) or Vishwakarma Scheme is a central sector scheme launched by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), Government of India on 17th September 2023.
• Aim is to provide support to traditional artisans and craftspeople.
• The scheme targets a vital segment of the workforce engaged in the informal or unorganized sector, where artisans, referred to as Vishwakarma, work with their hands and tools in occupations such as blacksmithing, goldsmithing, pottery, carpentry, and sculpting. 
• These skills are often passed down through generations, adhering to the guru-shishya model of mentorship and training, which fosters the continuity of age-old traditions.

Key Points:

• The scheme provides opportunities for skill enhancement through basic and advanced training programs, with a stipend of Rs. 500 per day.
• Artisans will receive a toolkit incentive of up to Rs. 15,000 in the form of e-vouchers to support their work.
• Collateral-free loans of up to Rs. 3 lakh will be provided in two tranches, with a concessional interest rate of 5%.   

• The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has launched the “First in the World Challenge” to encourage scientists to come up with innovative solutions to tackle health issues. 
• This initiative aims to foster novel, out of the box, futuristic ideas, new knowledge generation, discovery / development of breakthrough health technologies (vaccines, drugs/ therapeutics, diagnostics, interventions etc.), which has never been thought of, tested or tried in the world till date.

Refer to Addapedia notes for detailed info on ICMR

• Nearly ten elephants from a herd of 13 died in Madhya Pradesh’s Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve. 
• The deaths were linked to the consumption of kodo millet, a staple food for many in the region.

Reason:

• When consumed in large quantities or under specific conditions, kodo millet can produce mycotoxins, which are toxic substances produced by fungi. 
• These mycotoxins can cause severe illness and even death in animals, including elephants.

About:

• • Kodo Millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum) is a drought-resistant crop cultivated in India, Asia, and Africa.
  • It’s a staple food for many tribal communities and is known for its nutritional value and health benefits.   
• Origin: India, primarily Madhya Pradesh   

• Other Names: Kodra, Varagu   
• Nutritional Value: Rich in vitamins, minerals, fiber, gluten-free, and has a low glycemic index.  

Did you know?

• Recently the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) unanimously accepted India’s proposal to develop global standards for five Indian millets: Finger millet, Barnyard millet, Kodo millet, Proso millet, and Little millet. 

Additional information:

• The Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH) finalized quality standards for five spices at its 7th session, which was held in Kochi from January 29–February 2, 2024: Small cardamom, Turmeric, Juniper berry, Allspice, and Star anise.

• Government e Marketplace (GeM) has introduced 170 new seed categories on its portal, featuring nearly 8,000 seed varieties. 
• This initiative aims to simplify access to quality agricultural and horticulture seeds for farmers.
• The newly populated categories can be procured by Central and State PSUs and other governing bodies for further dissemination across the country. 
• The seed categories were created after consultation with stakeholders including state seed corporations and research bodies. 
• This move aligns with GeM’s broader strategy to promote category-based procurement across its platform

• The Odisha government has imposed a seven-month fishing ban at the river mouths of Dhamra, Devi, and Rushikulya, and within a 20-kilometer radius of the coast.   
• The ban is effective from November 1, 2024, to May 31, 2025, to protect the endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles during their nesting and hatching season.   
• This ban is enforced under the Orissa Marine Fishing Regulation Act (OMFRA), 1982, and the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.   
• The ban aims to prevent turtle deaths from fishing nets and trawlers and ensure the safety of marine animals during their breeding and mating season.

About:

• The Olive ridley turtles are the smallest and most abundant of all sea turtles found in the world, inhabiting warm waters of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans. 
• These turtles, along with their cousin the Kemps ridley turtle, are best known for their unique mass nesting called Arribada, where thousands of females come together on the same beach to lay eggs.
• Though found in abundance, their numbers have been declining over the past few years, and the species is recognized as Vulnerable by the IUCN Red list.

• The Wild Life (Protection) Act, of 1972 provides a legal framework for the protection of various species of wild animals and plants, management of their habitats, regulation, and control of trade in wild animals, plants, and products made from them
• The act also lists schedules of plants and animals that are afforded varying degrees of protection and monitoring by the government.
• India’s entry to the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) was made easier by the Wildlife Act.

Old Schedules under the Act:

• Schedule I: It covers endangered species that need rigorous protection.
• Schedule II: Animals under this list are also accorded high protection with the prohibition on their trade.
• Schedule III & IV: Species that are not endangered are included under Schedule III and IV.
• This includes protected species with hunting prohibited but the penalty for any violation is less compared to the first two schedules.
• Schedule V:This schedule contains animals that are considered as vermin (small wild animals that carry disease and destroy plants and food). These animals can be hunted.
• Schedule VI: It provides for regulation in the cultivation of a specified plant and restricts its possession, sale, and transportation.

Latest Amendment, 2022:

• Schedule I: Contains critically endangered species requiring the highest level of protection.   
• Schedule II: Includes endangered and threatened species.
• Schedule III: Lists protected species with less stringent protection measures.
• Schedule IV: Contains species protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

• Odisha’s ace swimmer Pratyasa Ray was presented the 32nd Ekalabya Puraskar for 2024.
• Pratyasa received a trophy, citation and a cash prize of Rs 7 lakh.

About:

• The Ekalabya Puraskar is a prestigious award bestowed upon outstanding athletes in India, primarily in the state of Odisha. 
• This award, instituted by the charitable wing of IMFA (a leading Ferro Alloys producer), aims to recognize and encourage young sporting talents. 
• Named after the legendary archer Ekalavya from the Mahabharata, the award symbolizes dedication, perseverance, and skill in sports.

• Berhampur city’s ODF status is questioned as there is acute shortage of functional public toilets and garbage strewn in the open.

About:

• ODF stands for Open Defecation Free. 
• It refers to the status of a village, town, or region where all households have access to and use toilets, and nobody defecates in the open.   
• India has made significant strides in achieving ODF status under the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM). 
• The SBM aimed to eliminate open defecation by 2019, and India successfully achieved this goal.   

ODF Plus:

• However, the focus has now shifted to ODF Plus, which aims to sustain ODF status and implement solid and liquid waste management systems in rural areas. 
• This ensures not only the absence of open defecation but also proper waste disposal to maintain cleanliness and hygiene.

• The Odisha government has prepared a state action plan for addressing the various issues faced by senior citizens as well as improving their quality of life. 
• The programme will be implemented under Centre’s Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY).

Key Points:

• The plan aims to cover all aspects from opening a helpline for the elderly, monitoring if they are receiving benefits from the government’s welfare schemes to training geriatric caregivers. 
• It will encompass all senior citizens of the state irrespective of their financial and social status.
• In every district, geriatric care and bedside assistance training will be provided to at least 50 youths and single women/widows/untrained professionals working in the field of old age care.
• The agency, selected by the collector, will run 24 training programmes in a year

About:

• Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana (AVYAY) is a comprehensive initiative launched by the Government of India to empower senior citizens and improve their quality of life. 
• This scheme acknowledges the invaluable contributions made by the elderly to society and aims to ensure their well-being and social inclusion.

Key objectives of AVYAY:

• Empowering senior citizens: To recognize and empower senior citizens by enabling them to actively participate in society.
• Improving quality of life: To enhance the overall quality of life of senior citizens by addressing their financial, health, and social needs.
• Promoting active aging: To encourage senior citizens to lead productive and healthy lives

All rights are reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission of Adda247.