He Says the Portal has Made the Land Acquisition Process speedy, Transparent and Error Free
Union Minister of State for Road Transport & Highways, Shipping and Chemical & Fertilizers, Shri Mansukh Mandaviya has expressed confidence over the successful implementation of the Bhoomi Rashi Portal in Land Acquisition process for roads and highways sector in the country.
Speaking in New Delhi today Shri Mandaviya said that digitalization in India is reaching new heights under the able leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, and the Bhoomi-Rashi portal of Ministry of Road Transport & Highways is an excellent testimony to this success.
The portal allows for totally digital and paper-less processing of land acquisition cases, and has resulted in transparent, quick, corruption-free and error-free handling of land acquisition cases. It has also made the possible real-time tracking of activities and generation of reports relating to land acquisition.
Shri Mandaviya informed that revenue records of about 7 lakh villages across the country have been integrated in the portal. He said, this digital change has drastically reduced the time taken for issuance of land acquisition notifications from 3-6 months to 1-2 weeks.
The Minister informed that while during the past two years, about a thousand land acquisition notifications could be issued every year, over 1700 notifications have already been issued by the Ministry in the first seven months of this financial year.
Shri Mandaviya further said that the process has also brought transparency in the system. Earlier the approved compensation amount used to be parked with the CALA (Competent Authority for Land Acquisition) but with BhoomiRashi portal this amount directly transferred into the account of the person concerned, through Public Financial Management System which is an integral part of the portal.
In addition to this, the process is also environment friendly since there is no physical movement of files – all work is done digitally. Shri Mandaviya said the BhoomiRashi portal is truly a success story of Digital India.
“The Health Ministry has taken up several focused and targeted schemes for addressing nutrition challenges in the country in a convergence mode with the other Ministries.We have focussed on Immunisation, detection and supplementation.” This was stated by Shri J P Nadda, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare at the 3rd meeting of the “National Council on India’s Nutrition Challanges” in presence of SmtManeka Sanjay Gandhi, Minister of Women and Child Development.
Dr. Rajiv Kumar, Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog, Dr.Vinod Kumar Paul, Member, Health & Nutrition, NITI Aayog, ShriRakeshShrivastava, Secretary (WCD), SmtPreeti Sudan, Seceratry (Health),Shri Rajesh Kotecha,Secretary AYUSH and other representatives of stakeholder Ministries like M/o Drinking Water and Sanitation, M/o Food & Public Distribution and representatives of States of Chattisgarh, Tamil Nadu and Bihar among others were present at the meeting.
Shri Nadda further assured that the Health Ministry will proactively address the challenges of nutrition in the country. He said that the Health Ministry has accorded high priority to address wide spread under nutrition in the country. There are different programme and schemes undertaken by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to address the problem of under-nutrition amongst the children, he stated.
Highlighting the initiatives of the Ministry, ShriNadda said that the Health Ministry is one of the key stakeholders for implementation of POSHAN Abhiyaan. “During POSHAN Maah (September 2018), 1.83 lakhs of activities have been conducted by MoHFW and Department of Health in the States and UTs with involvement of 2.58 Cr participants,” ShriNadda stated. He further said that in order to promote and support breastfeeding, Government has implemented “MAA- Mothers’ Absolute Affection” programme to improve breastfeeding coverage and appropriate breastfeeding practices in the country. A greater emphasis is laid on capacity building of the health workers on lactation management at both community and facility levels and 360 degree IEC campaign to create awareness regarding breastfeeding, he emphasized.
ShriNadda said that under the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) and Rashtriya Kishore Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK), systematic efforts are undertaken to detect nutrition deficiency among children and adolescents respectively. He added that the Ministry organisesNational De-worming Day twice in a year and around 26.7 Cr of children were administered Albendazole during Feb round 2018.
Shri Nadda also stressed on the need for involving local leaders and sensitising them towards nutrition initiatives of the Government so that they can raise awareness about it amongst the people.
The Meeting Discussed Action Taken Report on the recommendations of the last National Council Meeting and the brief on POSHAN MAAH outcomes, Specifications of smart phones and growth monitoring devises, third Party outcome based evaluation of PoshanAbhiayan, roll out of e-ILA (e-incremental learning approach- Technology developed to support the field functionaries to improve their knowledge and skills in an ongoing incremental manner) and many other issues concerning effective implementation of PoshanAbhiyan.
Rs 1000 crore CSIF fund has been created and has special incentive for cooperatives of North Eastern region, Aspirational Districts and cooperatives with women/SC/ST/PwD members
To cater to the needs and aspirations of the youth, the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) has come up with a youth-friendly scheme ‘Yuva Sahakar-Cooperative Enterprise Support and Innovation Scheme” for attracting them to cooperative business ventures.
“NCDC has created a dedicated fund with liberal features enabling youth to avail the scheme,” Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shri Radha Mohan Singh said at the launch of the scheme.
The Central Government has been encouraging ‘Start-Ups’ for ease of doing business, non-conventional opportunities are emerging and are being encouraged. The conducive environment is being leveraged by private and corporate sectors and ‘Hub Start-ups’ are being promoted. The newly launched scheme would encourage cooperatives to venture into new and innovative areas.
The scheme will be linked to Rs 1000 crore ‘Cooperative Start-up and Innovation Fund (CSIF)’ created by the NCDC. It would have more incentives for cooperatives of North Eastern region, Aspirational Districts and cooperatives with women or SC or ST or PwD members. The funding for the project will be up to 80% of the project cost for these special categories as against 70% for others. The scheme envisages 2% less than the applicable rate of interest on term loan for the project cost up to Rs 3 crore including 2 years moratorium on payment of principal. All types of cooperatives in operation for at least one year are eligible.
The Minister explained that this scheme is expected to meet the needs of today’s youth. He added that NCDC, being the most preferred financial institution in the world of cooperatives, has embarked on Sahakar 22, a Mission for Doubling Farmers’ Income by 2022.
The Minister while complimenting the NCDC on its remarkable performance since 2014 stated that the NCDC had an excellent track record and would provide the required handholding for making the scheme a success.
The NCDC has the unique distinction of being the sole statutory organisation functioning as an apex financial and developmental institution exclusively devoted to cooperative sector. It supports cooperatives in diverse fields apart from agriculture and allied sectors. It is an ISO 9001:2015 compliant organisation and has a distinctive edge of competitive financing. It has extended financial assistance of Rs 63702.61 crore during 2014-2018 (as on November 13), 220% more than Rs 19850.6 during 2010-14.
About the Leadership for Academicians Programme (LEAP): Leadership for Academicians Programme (LEAP) is a three weeks Flagship leadership development training programme (2 weeks domestic and one week foreign training) for second level academic functionaries in public funded higher education institutions.
The main objective is to prepare second tier academic heads who are potentially likely to assume leadership roles in the future.
The programme would provide senior faculty, with high academic credentials, the required leadership and managerial skills including skills of problem-solving, handling stress, team building work, conflict management, developing communication skills, understanding and coping with the complexity and challenges of governance in HEIs, financial & general administration.
The implementation of LEAP Programme will be through 15 NIRF top ranked Indian Institutions namely. The foreign Universities identified for the training are also within the top 100 in the world global rankings.
About Annual Refresher Programme in Teaching (ARPIT): Annual Refresher Programme in Teaching (ARPIT) is a major and unique initiative of online professional development of 15 lakh higher education faculty using the MOOCs platform SWAYAM.
For implementing ARPIT, 75 discipline-specific institutions have been identified and notified as National Resource Centres (NRCs) in the first phase, which are tasked to prepare online training material with focus on latest developments in the discipline, new & emerging trends, pedagogical improvements and methodologies for transacting revised curriculum.
ARPIT will be an ongoing exercise so that every year NRCs will continuously develop new refresher module in their earmarked discipline each year. The training materials will be uploaded and made available through SWAYAM. NRC will publish the list of the faculty who have been certified. The NRCs will revolutionize professional development of faculty by catering to massive numbers by leveraging ICT and online technology platform of SWAYAM.
NRCs are located in a mixed range of institutions such as, Central Universities, IISc, IUCAA, IITs, IISERs, NITs, State Universities under the Ministry’s Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya National Mission on Teachers and Teaching (PMMMNMTT); UGC’s Human Resource Development Centres (HRDCs), National Institutes for Technical Teachers Training (NITTTRs), IIITs and IGNOU.
Key Facts: The aim for selecting these innovators aims at leveraging technology for improving early detection and prompt treatment along with promoting diagnostics feasible for primary health care facilities.
It also aims to supporting national efforts to effectively tackle eradicate these diseases which is crucial health challenges in India.
Government has set a target of eliminating TB by 2025 and malaria by 2030. India contributes to 27% of the global TB burden and 68% of all malaria cases in the Southeast Asia region
What is Indian Health Fund (IHF)? IHF was launched in 2016 by Tata Trusts in collaboration with The Global Fund, to drive innovations towards key infectious disease challenges in India. It supports individuals and organisations with already germinated innovative strategies, services, products, such that they become sustainable and scalable solutions in addressing TB and malaria.
The initiative is a long-term exercise aligned with country’s goal of eliminating TB by 2025 and malaria by 2030. It will promote innovative solutions such that they are widely accessible and are affordable.
The commemorative Special Cover of IONS 10th Anniversary celebrations depicts a map of the Indian Ocean and littoral countries of the IOR, signifying the geopolitical importance of the region.
About IONS: IONS, the 21st century’s first significant international maritime security initiative launched in February 2008, provides a forum for discussion of regional maritime issues and promotes friendly relationships among member nations. It presently has 24 members and eight observer navies.
It is a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase maritime co-operation among navies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region by providing an open and inclusive forum for discussion of regionally relevant maritime issues and, in the process, endeavors to generate a flow of information between naval professionals that would lead to common understanding and possibly agreements on the way ahead.
Under the charter of business adopted in 2014, the grouping has working groups on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), Information Security and Interoperability (IS&I) and anti-piracy now renamed as maritime security.
Ease of Doing Agri-Business Index: The new Ease of Doing Agri-Business Index will rank the States on the basis of reforms in the sector as well as their investment in agriculture, increased productivity, reduction of input costs, and risk mitigation measures.
The Agri Ministry will consider rewarding the higher performing States both in absolute and incremental terms by linking the performance with allocation from flexi funds made available in various flagship.
The proposed index will focus on reforms, with marketing reforms (25%) and governance and land reforms (20%) carrying almost half of the weight of the parameters in its scoring system.
Parameters: The parameters are process-oriented, and are meant to evolve as and when new reforms or initiatives are proposed. Another major parameter which States will be rated on is their success in reducing the cost of farm inputs (20%) by distributing soil health cards and encouraging organic farming and micro-irrigation.
Risk mitigation measures such as crop and livestock insurance carry a 15% weightage, while increased productivity and investment in agriculture carry a 10% weight each.
Way ahead: As agriculture is a State subject, the success of policies and reform initiatives proposed at the Centre is dependent on implementation by the States. To ensure that reform agenda of the government is implemented at a desired pace by all State governments, there is a need to develop a competitive spirit between the States.
About the Indian Wind Turbine Certification Scheme (IWTCS): The IWTCS is a consolidation of relevant National and International Standards (IS/IEC/IEEE), Technical Regulations and requirements issued by Central Electricity Authority (CEA), guidelines issued by MNRE and other international guidelines. It also incorporates various best practices from other countries to ensure the quality of the wind energy projects.
The draft Scheme enlists the guidelines for the benefit of all the stakeholders from concept to lifetime of wind turbine, including Indian Type Approved Model (ITAM), Indian Type Certification Scheme (ITCS), Wind Farm Project Certification Scheme (WFPCS) and Wind Turbine Safety & Performance Certification Scheme (WTSPCS).
The IWTCS is envisaged to assist and facilitate the following stakeholders; (i.) Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) (ii.) End Users -Utilities, SNAs, Developers, IPPs, Owners, Authorities, Investors and Insurers (iii.) Certification Bodies (iv.) Testing Laboratories.
Need for a scheme in this context: Wind sector in India is growing at a rapid pace with increased utilization of wind energy for the power development. The modern wind turbines have higher hub heights, larger rotor diameter, higher capacity and improved Capacity Utilization Factor (CUF) along with technological improvements.
Under these developments, there is a need for comprehensive document which provides the complete technical requirements which shall have to be complied by the wind turbines for the safe and reliable operation by all the stakeholders viz, OEMs, Independent Power Producers (IPPs), wind farm developers, Financial Institutions, Utilities and others. Also, there is a need for technical regulations which shall facilitate common ground for OEMs, Developers, Investors and Financial Institution for systematic development.
Key facts: The conference will feature sessions on music, film, broadcasting and publishing, as well as collective management, emerging models and the implications for the market and policy makers.
India has been chosen as a host nation for the conference by World Intellectual Property Organization(WIPO) due to the strong creative industry in the country in films, music and media. The focus for this year’s conference is the Asia Pacific region.
About Global Digital Content Market (GDCM)2018: GDCM is a platform to discuss vital issues and enhance development of the digital and IP generating industries such as publishing, films, music, and gaming all of which are major contributors to the Indian GDP.
The GDCM 2018 will see participation of professionals from various creative fields, the digital industry around the world and delegates of the diplomatic community from Missions to the United Nations.
The aim of GDCM 2018 is to give industry stakeholders a platform to come together and discuss new avenues in the films, music, gaming and creative industry along with points of challenge that is presented due to the changing creative landscape because of the disruption brought about by digital technologies.
What is it? It is a joint military exercise between Indian and Russia on combating insurgency under the aegis of United Nations (UN).
Why in News? The latest edition is being conducted at Babina Field Firing Ranges, Babina Military Station.
The aim of the exercise is to practice joint planning and conduct to enhance interoperability of the two Armies in the peace keeping/ enforcement environment under the aegis of the UN.
It focuses upon training on enhancing team building, special tactical level operations such as Cordon and Search, house intervention, handling and neutralisation of Improvised Explosive Devices and integrated employment of force multipliers.
What is it? It is a campaign launched by Twitter India aimed at encouraging youth to contribute in public debates and participate in civic engagement for the 2019 general elections.
Significance: The campaign will serve as resource for young Indians to find more information about elections, support social causes they are passionate about and join public conversation.