Addapedia Odisha | Daily Current Affairs | 20 August 2024 | Download PDF

• The Union Minister of Port Shipping and Waterways recently launched the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the Green Tug Transition Program (GTTP).

About Green Tug Transition Program:

• Launch Date: GTTP (Green Tug Transition Programme) was launched on May 22, 2023, under the ‘Panch Karma Sankalp’ initiative.
• Objective: To phase out conventional fuel-based harbour tugs operating in Indian Major Ports and replace them with green tugs powered by cleaner and more sustainable alternative fuels.
• Nodal Agency: National Centre of Excellence in Green Port & Shipping (NCoEGPS) will act as the nodal entity for the programme.
• Long-term Vision: India aims to become a ‘Global Hub for Green Ship’ building by 2030 with the launch of GTTP.
• Technology: ‘Green Hybrid Tugs’ will be powered by Green Hybrid Propulsion systems, which will eventually transition to non-fossil fuel solutions like Methanol, Ammonia, and Hydrogen.

• The Indian Army and Air Force recently conducted a first-of-its-kind paradrop of the Aarogya Maitri Health Cube, the world’s first indigenously-made portable hospital, at an elevation of 15,000 feet.

About Aarogya Maitri Health Cube:

• World’s First Portable Hospital:
  • Designed indigenously under Project BHISHM (Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita and Maitri).
  • Includes essential medical equipment and supplies such as a mini-ICU, operation theatre, X-ray machine, blood test equipment, cooking station, food, water, and a power generator.
• Aarogya Maitri Cube Cage Design:
  • Total of 36 mini-cubes in a single cage, providing survival supplies for 48 hours for 100 survivors.
  • Two cages can be joined (master cube one and master cube two) to include 72 cubes in total, capable of assisting 200 survivors.

• Uttarakhand has become the first state in India and the world to launch a Gross Environment Product Index, focusing not just on ecosystem services but also on ecosystem growth.

About Gross Environment Product Index:

• GEP Index: A novel, integrative metric designed to evaluate ecological development caused by human interventions.
• Constituents: The index is determined by the condition of four main environmental constituents:
  • Air quality
  • Water quality
  • Number of trees planted in a year
  • Measure of the area of organic soil
• Formula: GEP index = (Air-GEP index + Water-GEP index + Soil-GEP index + Forest-GEP index)
• Purpose: Provides quantifiable assessments of improvements in air, water, soil, and forest quality.

• Members of the Hakki Pikki tribal community have successfully ventured into the hair oil industry as entrepreneurs.

About Hakki Pikki Tribe:

• Tribe Name: Hakki Pikki (Hakki means ‘bird’ and Pikki means ‘catchers’ in Kannada).
• Traditional Occupation: Semi-nomadic tribe, traditionally involved in bird catching and hunting.
• Location:
  • Primarily reside in Karnataka.
  • Also found in Western and Southern states of India, mostly near forest areas.
• Migration History: Migrated from Northern India, mainly from Gujarat and Rajasthan.
• Language:
  • Speak an Indo-Aryan language called ‘Vaagri’ at home.
  • Use Kannada for daily business interactions.
  • Endangered Status: UNESCO has listed ‘Vaagri’ as one of the endangered languages.

• The National Coal Index (NCI) witnessed a significant decline of 3.48% in June 2024, dropping to 142.13 points provisionally, compared to 147.25 points in June 2023.

About National Coal Index (NCI):

• National Coal Index (NCI): A price index reflecting changes in coal prices each month relative to a fixed base year.
• Base Year: FY 2017-18.
• Purpose: To provide an index that accurately reflects the market price of coal.
• Release: Issued monthly by the Ministry of Coal.
• Exclusions: Washed coal and coal products are not included in the index

• Ramjit Tudu, a techie from Odisha, is on a mission to revive the Santali language through digital innovation. 

Santali Language:

• Santali is a prominent Austro-Asiatic language primarily spoken by the Santals, a tribal community residing in eastern India, Nepal, and Bangladesh. 

Key Points:

• Language Family: Austro-Asiatic
• Script: Primarily written in Ol Chiki, an indigenous script developed specifically for Santali. 
• It’s also written in Roman, Bengali, and Devanagari scripts.
• Geographical Distribution: Predominantly spoken in Indian states of Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, Assam, Tripura, and Mizoram. 
• Also found in Nepal and Bangladesh.
• Status: Recognized as an official language in India.

• • Malaria cases in Odisha have surged by almost double in a month due to a delay in distributing long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs).
  • The LLINs, procured with funds from the Odisha Mineral Bearing Areas Development Corporation (OMBADC), were meant for high-burden districts. 
  • However, a government indecision on their distribution has hindered their supply. 
• This delay is seen as a major factor contributing to the rise in malaria cases.

Malaria:

• Malaria is caused by a single-celled parasite of the genus Plasmodium. 
• It is transmitted to humans primarily through the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes
• It’s prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions.  

• Odisha has reported an 11% increase in organ transplantation in 2023 compared to the previous year.
• This positive trend is attributed to heightened awareness about organ donation and improved medical facilities. 
• The state has also witnessed a significant 50% rise in cadaveric organ transplants. 
• While the majority of transplants involve kidneys, there has been progress in liver transplants as well. 
• This development underscores Odisha’s growing commitment to saving lives through organ donation.