Addapedia Odisha | Daily Current Affairs | 09 August 2024 | Download PDF

• The Union Government recently denied any threat of delisting the Bhoj Wetland from the Ramsar Convention list of wetlands of international importance.

About Bhoj Wetland:

• Location: Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
• Structure: Consists of two contiguous human-made reservoirs:
  • Upper Lake: Also known as Bhojtal (Bada Talaab).
  • Lower Lake: Known as Chhota Talaab.
• Upper Lake:
  • South: Van Vihar National Park.
  • East and North: Human settlements.
  • West: Agricultural fields.
• Importance: Upper Lake is a major source of potable water for Bhopal.

• The Chhattisgarh government announced the establishment of a new tiger reserve, named Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve.

About Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve:

• Location: Northern part of Chhattisgarh, bordering Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand.
• Tiger Reserve Status: This is the fourth Tiger Reserve in Chhattisgarh, following Udanti-Sitanadi, Achanakmar, and Indravati Reserves.
• Area Coverage: Spread across Guru Ghasidas National Park and Tamor Pingla Wildlife Sanctuary in Chhattisgarh.
• Rivers:
  • Origin of significant rivers like Hasdeo Gopad and Baranga.
  • Catchment area for rivers such as Neur, Bijadhur, Banas, Rehand.
• Connectivity: Acts as a corridor for tigers to move between Bandhavgarh and Palamau Tiger Reserves.
• Historical Background:
  • Originally part of the Sanjay Dubri National Park.
  • Guru Ghasidas Park was established as a separate entity in Chhattisgarh’s Sarguja region after the formation of the state in 2001.

• The Minister of State for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change recently informed the Lok Sabha about the National Coastal Scheme.

About National Coastal Mission Scheme:

• Launch Year: 2014
• Envisioned Under: National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC)
• Objective: To address the impact of climate change on coastal and marine ecosystems, infrastructure, and communities in coastal areas through adaptation and mitigation measures.
• Associated Program: National Coastal Management Program
• Key Components:
  • Management Action Plan: Conservation of Mangroves and Coral Reefs.
  • Research & Development: Focused on Marine and Coastal ecosystems.
  • Sustainable Development of Beaches: Under the Beach Environment & Aesthetic Management Service (BEAMS).
  • Capacity Building & Outreach: Program for Coastal States/UTs on conservation, including beach cleaning drives.
• Implementation: State Governments of Coastal States and Union Territory (UT) Administrations are the implementing agencies.

• Waqf Bill referred to the joint parliamentary panel after the Opposition calls it ‘draconian’ and an attack on the Constitution.

What is Waqf?

• Waqf refers to properties designated exclusively for religious or charitable purposes under Islamic law. 
• Once established, a waqf cannot be revoked.
• Significance: Waqf boards are the third-largest landowners in India, managing over 9 lakh acres of land valued at approximately Rs 1.2 lakh crore.

About Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024:

• Central Waqf Council: The bill proposes the establishment of a Central Waqf Council alongside state Waqf Boards, with representation from Muslim women and non-Muslims. 
• District Collector’s Role: The bill proposes designating the District Collector as the primary authority to determine whether a property is classified as waqf or government land, shifting responsibility from the Waqf Tribunal. This is a contentious change, as critics fear it may lead to misuse of authority.
• Board of Auqaf: A separate Board of Auqaf is proposed for the Boharas and Aghakhanis, ensuring representation for Shias, Sunnis, Bohras, and Aghakhanis within waqf boards.
• Central Government Authority: The bill grants the central government the authority to initiate audits of waqf properties, with auditors appointed by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.
• Waqfnama Requirement: The bill mandates a valid waqfnama (official deed) to express one’s intention to dedicate property as waqf, replacing the current allowance for oral agreements.

• The central government recently announced the full list of awardees for the first-ever Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar (RVP) 2024.

About RVP:

• Award Recipients:
  • Vigyan Team Award: ISRO-Chandrayaan 3 Team for their contribution in Space Science and Technology.
  • Vigyan Ratna Puraskar: Celebrated biochemist Govindarajan Padmanabhan as the first recipient.
• About Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar (RVP):
  • A new set of awards introduced by the Government of India in the field of Science, Technology, and Innovation.
  • Objective: To recognize notable and inspiring contributions by scientists, technologists, and innovators, individually or in teams, across various fields.
  • Significance: It is one of the highest recognitions in the field of science, technology, and innovation in India.
• Award Categories:
  • Vigyan Ratna (VR): Recognizes lifetime achievements in any field of science and technology.
  • Vigyan Shri (VS): Recognizes distinguished contributions in any field of science and technology.
  • Vigyan Yuva-Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (VY-SSB): Encourages young scientists up to 45 years for exceptional contributions in science and technology.
  • Vigyan Team (VT): Awarded to a team of three or more scientists/researchers/innovators for exceptional team contributions in science and technology.
• Award Ceremony: To be held on 23rd August (National Space Day). 

• Archaeologists are pushing for the inclusion of Odisha’s Buddhist sites, particularly Lalitgiri, Langudi, Udayagiri, and Ratnagiri, in the UNESCO World Heritage List.   
• The decision was taken after the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO which concluded in New Delhi recently.

Key points:

• These sites, dating back to the 3rd century BC, are believed to meet the criteria for this prestigious recognition due to their historical, archaeological, and social significance. 
• Securing the World Heritage status would not only preserve these invaluable sites but also elevate Odisha’s cultural standing on the global stage.   
• The proposal comes after the successful bid for Konark Sun Temple as India’s sole World Heritage site.

UNESCO World Heritage List:

• UNESCO World Heritage List is a collection of sites considered to be of outstanding universal value to humanity. 
• These sites are designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).   
• UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, established the World Heritage List in 1972 to identify and protect places of outstanding cultural or natural importance to humanity.

Criteria:

• Cultural heritage: historical monuments, buildings, sites with cultural significance
• Natural heritage: natural features, geological formations, ecosystems   

Purpose:

• To protect and preserve these sites for future generations   
• To promote international cooperation and awareness of cultural and natural heritage

Key Points:

• • India boasts a rich cultural and natural heritage, reflected in a total of 43 impressive numbers of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
  • Odisha currently has one UNESCO World Heritage Site: the Sun Temple at Konarak.
• Maximum UNESCO World Heritage Site: Six in Uttar Pradesh.

India – First UNESCO World Heritage Site: 

• • The first sites to achieve this prestigious status were: 
• Ajanta Caves, Maharashtra   
• Ellora Caves, Maharashtra   
• Agra Fort, Uttar Pradesh   
• Taj Mahal, Uttar Pradesh

Note: 

• The first UNESCO World Heritage Sites were the Galapagos Islands and Quito, both located in Ecuador.  

• The Ministry of Women and Child Development has directed the Odisha government to extend social security benefits to contractual staff working under the Mission Vatsalya scheme. 
• These benefits include provisions like Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) and insurance.

Mission Vatsalya:

• Mission Vatsalya is a central government scheme aimed at the care, protection, rehabilitation, and reintegration of children in difficult circumstances.
• Mission Vatsalya is a centrally sponsored scheme implemented by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD), Government of India. 
• It was introduced in 2009-10 as a replacement for the earlier Child Protection Services (CPS) Scheme

Key features of Mission Vatsalya:

• Central Sponsorship: The scheme receives financial support from the Central government.   
• State Implementation: Odisha State implements the scheme through its Child Protection Society and District Child Protection Units.   
• Focus on Child Welfare: It aims to protect children from abuse, neglect, exploitation, and trafficking.   
• Rehabilitation and Reintegration: Provides support for children to reintegrate into society

• Bhubaneswar has become a pioneer in food distribution technology with the inauguration of India’s first rice ATM. 
• This innovative machine aims to streamline the Public Distribution System (PDS) and ensure beneficiaries receive the correct amount of rice.   

Key features:

• Automated dispensing: Ration card holders can withdraw up to 25 kg of rice by entering their card number and undergoing biometric authentication.   
• Transparency and efficiency: The ATM is expected to reduce delays, prevent theft, and ensure accurate weight distribution.   
• Potential for expansion: If successful, the rice ATM model may be replicated across Odisha and other states under the One Nation One Ration Card scheme

Public Distribution System (PDS):

• The Public Distribution System (PDS) is India’s food security system aimed at providing essential food grains and other commodities to the poor at subsidized prices. 
• It’s a joint effort between the central and state governments.   

Key points:

• Purpose: To manage food scarcity, ensure food security, and support vulnerable sections of society.   
• Commodities: Primarily distributes wheat, rice, sugar, and kerosene.
• Some states also include pulses, edible oils, and other items.   
• Implementation: Operated through a network of Fair Price Shops (FPS) across the country.   
• Targeting: Initially focused on Below Poverty Line (BPL) families, but now covers a wider population under the National Food Security Act (NFSA).   
• Challenges: Issues like leakages, corruption, and inadequate coverage persist, hindering its effectiveness

• Puri district in Odisha has been selected as one of the five locations in India to pilot a state-of-the-art Advanced Emergency Care System (EMS). 
• The project is initiated by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
• It aims to significantly reduce preventable and treatable mortality rates in the country.   

Emergency Care System (EMS):

• India-EMS is a pilot project initiated by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in collaboration with national health institutes to establish a state-of-the-art Advanced Emergency Care System (EMS).   

Aim:

• The primary goal of the project is to significantly reduce preventable and treatable mortality rates in India by providing timely and effective emergency care.   
• The seven key health emergencies that will be dealt under EMS is – heart attack, brain stroke, trauma, snake bite, poisoning, neonatal and maternal complications

Implementation

• The project is being piloted in five districts across India:
• Puri (Odisha)
• Ludhiana (Punjab)
• Vidisha (Madhya Pradesh)
• Vadodara (Gujarat)
• Puducherry.   

Key Features

• Integrated System: Brings together healthcare professionals and hospitals for coordinated emergency care planning.   
• Focus on Prevention: Aims to reduce emergency cases through preventive measures.
• Data-Driven: Utilizes data to analyze emergency trends and inform decision-making.

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